UK trade: February 2025

• The value of goods imports increased by £2.8 billion (5.9%) in February 2025, reflecting a rise in both EU and non-EU imports.
• The value of goods exports remained stable in February 2025, with minimal change to exports for both EU and non-EU countries.
• Exports of goods to the United States increased by £0.5 billion in February 2025, the third consecutive monthly rise, while imports of goods from the United States increased by £0.2 billion.
• The total goods and services trade deficit narrowed by £7.5 billion to a deficit of £1.0 billion in the three months to February 2025, the lowest total trade deficit since the three months to July 2021.
• The trade in goods deficit narrowed by £3.5 billion to £55.0 billion in the three months to February 2025, while the trade in services surplus is estimated to have widened by around £4.0 billion to £53.9 billion.

The value of total imports of goods in "current prices", which are not adjusted for inflation (as explained in Section 10: Glossary), rose by £2.8 billion (5.9%) in February 2025. Imports from the EU increased by £1.5 billion (6.1%), while imports from non-EU countries rose by £1.3 billion (5.8%) (Table 1 and Figure 1).

Total exports of goods remained stable in February 2025, with minimal change to exports for both EU and non-EU countries.

Imports from the EU were £1.9 billion higher than from non-EU countries in February 2025, while exports to the EU were £2.7 billion lower than to non-EU countries.

Figure 1: Goods imports from EU and non-EU countries rose in February 2025

EU and non-EU goods imports and exports, excluding precious metals, current prices, seasonally adjusted, February 2022 to February 2025

After removing the effect of inflation by calculating "chained volume measures" (explained in Section 10: Glossary), total goods imports increased by £2.4 billion (4.9%) in February 2025 (Figure 2). This increase was primarily because of a £1.7 billion (7.0%) rise in imports from the EU, while imports from non-EU countries rose by £0.7 billion (3.0%).

Total goods exports increased by £0.3 billion (1.1%) in February 2025, after the effect of inflation was removed. This was because exports to non-EU countries increased by £0.4 billion (2.5%), partially offset by a £0.1 billion (0.4%) decrease in exports to the EU.

Figure 2: Goods imports from both EU and non-EU countries rose in inflation adjusted terms in February 2025

Imports and exports of goods, excluding precious metals, current prices and chained volume measures, seasonally adjusted, EU and non-EU, February 2022 to February 2025

Notes

1.  Our chained volume measures (CVM) series are based on indices impacted by issues affecting the Produce Price Impacts (PPI). We therefore advise caution in interpreting CVM movements.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly proposed tariffs on imports of goods to the United States following his election in November 2024 and subsequent inauguration in January 2025. On 2 April 2025, President Trump formally announced a range of tariffs on imports of goods to the United States, with imports from the UK subject to a blanket 10% tariff and imports of steel and aluminium, and cars and car parts subject to a higher 25% tariff.

Exports of goods to the United States, including precious metals, increased by £0.5 billion in February 2025 and imports of goods, including precious metals, increased by £0.2 billion. Goods exports to the United States have increased for the third consecutive month and are at the highest level since November 2022 (Figure 3).

This release covers trade up to February 2025, so there will be no direct impact of tariffs on these data. While the rises in exports to the United States following the election in November 2024 could indicate some evidence of changing trader behaviour, it is important to note that monthly data can be erratic, so movements should be treated with caution.

We will be publishing an article on UK trade with the United States on 25 April 2025, providing a more detailed look at our trade in goods and services with the United States in 2024.

We will continue to monitor UK trade with the United States in future releases.

Goods imports

The value of imports from the EU increased by £1.5 billion (6.1%) in February 2025. This was because of a £0.6 billion rise in imports of machinery and transport equipment, and £0.2 billion increases in imports of food and live animals, chemicals, and material manufactures (Figure 4). The rise in imports of machinery and transport equipment was linked to increased imports of cars from Germany, Spain and Belgium. The increases in imports of food and live animals, chemicals, and material manufactures were the result of small rises across multiple countries and commodities.

The value of imports from non-EU countries increased by £1.3 billion (5.8%) in February 2025. This was primarily because of a £1.0 billion increase in imports of machinery and transport equipment, linked to increased imports of aircraft from the United States. There was also a £0.3 billion rise in imports of miscellaneous manufactures and a £0.2 billion rise in fuels imports. These were because of increased imports of jewellery from Qatar and gas from the United States, respectively. There were smaller falls across several other commodities, which partially offset these rises.

Figure 4: Imports of machinery and transport equipment from the EU and non-EU countries rose in February 2025

EU and non-EU goods imports by commodity, current prices, seasonally adjusted, February 2023 to February 2025

Goods exports

The value of exports to the EU remained stable in February 2025. This was because a £0.6 billion fall in export of fuels was offset by a £0.3 billion rise in machinery and transport equipment exports, a £0.2 billion rise in material manufactures and a £0.1 billion rise in chemical exports. The decrease in fuel exports was because of reduced exports of both refined and crude oil to the Netherlands, and the rise in machinery and transport equipment exports was because of increased exports of aircraft to Germany (Figure 5).

The value of exports to non-EU countries remained stable in February 2025. Falls of £0.6 billion in exports of material manufactures and £0.3 billion in miscellaneous manufactures were offset by £0.3 billion rises in exports of machinery and transport equipment, and fuels. The fall in material manufactures exports was because of reduced exports to India and Canada, while the rise in machinery and transport equipment exports was because of increased exports of mechanical power generators to Vietnam and the United States. The rise in fuel exports was because of increased exports of crude oil to China and South Korea.

Figure 5: Exports to both EU and non-EU countries remained stable in February 2025

EU and non-EU goods exports by commodity, current prices, seasonally adjusted, February 2023 to February 2025

Early estimates suggest that imports of services fell by £0.2 billion (0.6%) in value terms in February 2025, while exports of services increased by £0.2 billion (0.4%) (Figure 6). There was little difference between trade in services trends in value and inflation-adjusted terms in February 2025.

Monthly figures for trade in services for February 2025 are forecast from Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2024 data, using additional data sources. Our UK Trade Quality and Methodology Information (QMI) has more detail on how our trade in services statistics are compiled.

The S&P Global UK PMI (PDF, 143KB) for February signalled increasing service sector growth, however, this growth remained below the historical trend. Despite this acceleration in activity, the decline in new orders for exports was the highest observed since August 2023. A lack of new work continued to be an issue for private sector firms, with weaker sales in both the EU and United States being noted as a main driver. However, improvements in business confidence were seen in February despite uncertainty in geopolitical and domestic conditions.

Figure 6: Imports of services fell while exports increased in February 2025

Imports and exports of services, current prices and chained volume measures, seasonally adjusted, February 2022 to February 2025

Notes

1.   Monthly figures for trade in services for February 2025 are forecast from Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2024 data, using additional data sources. Early estimates of trade in services are revised in line with the   National Accounts Revisions Policy

2.      Our chained volume measures (CVM) series are based on indices impacted by issues affecting the Producer Price Index (PPI). We therefore advise caution in interpreting CVM movements.

Total imports of goods increased by £1.1 billion (0.8%) in the three months to February 2025, compared with the three months to November 2024 (Table 2). This was because goods imports from non-EU countries rose by £2.5 billion (3.8%), while goods imports from the EU decreased by £1.4 billion (1.8%).

Exports of goods increased by £4.6 billion (5.3%) in the three months to February 2025. This was because of a £4.9 billion (11.1%) increase in goods exports to non-EU countries, while goods exports to the EU decreased by £0.3 billion (0.7%).

Early estimates indicate that imports of services increased by around £2.0 billion (2.5%) in the three months to February 2025, while exports of services increased by an estimated £6.0 billion (4.6%).

The total goods and services trade balance, excluding precious metals, narrowed by £7.5 billion to a deficit of £1.0 billion in the three months to February 2025, compared with the three months to November 2024 (Figure 7). This was the smallest total trade deficit since the three months to July 2021.

The total trade deficit narrowed in the three months to February 2025 because of a larger increase in exports than imports for both goods and services. Total exports increased by £10.5 billion over this period, and imports rose by £3.1 billion. When removing the effect of inflation, the total trade deficit, excluding precious metals, narrowed by £6.7 billion to £15.2 billion.

The trade in goods deficit in value terms, excluding precious metals, narrowed by £3.5 billion to £55.0 billion in the three months to February 2025 compared with the three months to November 2024, because of a larger rise in goods exports than imports. The trade in services surplus is estimated to have widened by around £4.0 billion to £53.9 billion as service exports increased more than imports increased.

Explore the 2024 trade in goods data using our interactive tools. Our data break down UK trade in goods with 234 countries by 125 commodities.

Use our map to get a better understanding of what goods the UK traded with a country. Select a country by hovering over it (desktop only) or use the drop-down menu.

Notes:

1. For more information about our methods and how we compile these statistics, see our Trade in goods, country-by-commodity experimental data: 2011 to 2016 article. Users should note that the data published alongside this release are official statistics and no longer in development.

2. These data are our best estimate of these bilateral UK trade flows. Users should note that alternative estimates are available, in some cases, through the statistical agencies for bilateral countries or through central databases, such as United Nations (UN) Comtrade.

3. This interactive map denotes country boundaries in accordance with statistical classifications set out in Appendix 4 of the Balance of Payments (BoP) Vademecum (PDF, 2.9MB) and do not represent the UK policy on disputed territories.

You can also explore the 2024 trade in goods data by commodity, such as car exports to the EU, and UK tea or coffee imports.

Select a commodity from the drop-down menu or select the levels with your digit or cursor to explore the data.

Notes:

1. For more information about our methods and how we compile these statistics, see our Trade in goods, country-by-commodity experimental data: 2011 to 2016 article. Users should note that the data published alongside this release are no longer in development.
2. These data are our best estimate of these bilateral UK trade flows. Users should note that alternative estimates are available, in some cases, through the statistical agencies for bilateral countries or through central databases, such as UN Comtrade.
3. These interactive charts denote country boundaries in accordance with statistical classifications set out within Appendix 4 of the Balance of Payments (BoP) Vademecum (PDF, 2.9MB) and does not represent the UK policy on disputed territories.

In accordance with the National Accounts Revisions Policy, the data in this release have been revised for January 2025 for both goods and services.

Chained volume measures

Chained volume measures (CVMs) are a "real" measure in that they have had the effect of inflation removed to measure the change in volume between consecutive periods, fixing the prices of goods and services in one period (known as the base year, which is 2022 for trade).

Current price measures

Current price estimates (CPs) measure the actual price paid for goods or services and are not adjusted for inflation. Unless otherwise stated, all current price data are provided in £ million and are seasonally adjusted.

Inflation

Inflation is the change in the average price level of goods and services over a period of time.

Implied deflators

An implied deflator (IDEF) shows the implied change in average prices for the respective components of the trade balance, for example, the IDEF for imports will show the average price movement for imports.

Precious metals and non-monetary gold

Precious metals include non-monetary gold, silver, platinum and palladium. The category forms part of the commodity group "unspecified goods". Non-monetary gold comprises the majority of this group and is the technical term for gold bullion not owned by central banks.

Trade balance

The trade balance is the difference between exports and imports or exports minus imports. When the value of exports is greater than the value of imports, the trade balance is in surplus. When the value of imports is greater than the value of exports, the trade balance is in deficit. The balance is sometimes referred to as "net exports".

A full Glossary of economic terms is available.

The UK leaving the EU and the subsequent transition period, along with the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, supply chain disruption and global recession, have caused higher levels of volatility in trade statistics in recent years. The monthly analysis shows short-term trade movements, but it is important to note that monthly data can be erratic, so movements should be treated with caution.

Data collection changes

Since the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020, the arrangements for how the UK trades with the EU changed.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) implemented some data collection changes following Brexit, which affected statistics on UK trade in goods with the EU. We have made adjustments to our estimates of goods imports from the EU in 2021 and 2022 to account for these changes, however, a structural break remains in the full time series for goods imports from and exports to the EU from January 2021.

We advise caution when interpreting and drawing conclusions from these statistics. Our article, Impact of trade in goods data collection changes on UK trade statistics: summary of adjustments and the structural break from 2021, provides more detail.

Data sources

Data from HMRC make up over 90% of trade in goods value and are the main source for this release. Data from the quarterly International Trade in Services (ITIS) Survey make up over 50% of trade in services data. View our UK Trade Quality and Methodology Information (QMI) for more detail.

Data from the International Passenger Survey (IPS) are the main source for travel services. The survey has now resumed following the suspension in 2020, with data for Northern Ireland not currently being recorded.

Unless otherwise specified, data within this bulletin are in current prices and have not been adjusted to remove the effects of inflation. In line with international standards, our headline trade statistics contain the UK's exports and imports of non-monetary gold. More information can be found in our National Accounts article: A brief explanation of non-monetary gold in national accounts.

Method

Trade is measured through both exports and imports of goods and services. Data are supplied by over 30 sources, including several administrative sources, with HMRC being the largest for trade in goods.

Our UK trade figures are produced using country of dispatch, which records imports as coming from the country dispatching the shipments. However, trade figures can also be produced using country of origin, as is used by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). Users should be aware of the different accounting methods used and the resulting differences across trade figures.

Monthly trade in services data are taken from quarterly trade in services data and split across the months within that quarter through estimation. In months where we have a full quarter's data, we revise previous estimates of monthly values within that quarter.

View more detailed information about the methods used to produce UK trade statistics in our UK Trade methodology.

Allocation of non-ferrous metals

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) receives data on UK trade in goods primarily through customs declarations from HMRC. HMRC measures trade on a cross-border-movement basis. The ONS measures trade on an economic-ownership basis, which is where ownership changes but cross-border movement has not necessarily occurred.

To measure trade in non-monetary gold and other precious metals on an economic ownership basis, we supplement the HMRC data with data from the Bank of England.

Our headline trade statistics contain the UK's exports and imports of non-monetary gold, in line with international standards. More information can be found in our National Accounts article: A brief explanation of non-monetary gold in national accounts.

The commodity group of material manufactures includes non-ferrous metals such as silver, palladium, copper, aluminium, tin, and others. These materials are mainly used in manufacturing. They are subject to adjustments that account for trade where economic ownership has changed, but cross-border movement has not occurred.

We are currently reviewing our methodology for the allocation of non-ferrous metals, to ensure that we capture all trade of non-ferrous metals where these commodities are traded as a financial asset.

Pausing of Producer Prices publications

As announced on 21 March 2025, during work to improve the systems used to create the Producer Price Index (PPI) and the Services Producer Price Indices (SPPI), our quality assurance identified a problem with the chain-linking methods used to calculate the PPI and SPPI indices. A further update on the PPI and SPPI was published at the same time as this release on 11 April 2025.

This problem affects some of the deflators used for both trade in goods and trade in services, including the Import Price Indices (IPI) and Export Price Indices (EPI). Further analysis is required to understand the full impact to trade, including effects at a more detailed level, for example, by country and commodity. Early analysis suggests that some goods export and import data from 2023 and some goods export data before 2014 may be affected. This impact will be seen in our chained volume measures (CVM) and implied deflator (IDEF) series.

We do not plan any changes to the publication timetable for monthly UK trade and will continue to use PPI estimates compiled under the current methodology while the issues are investigated.

We will provide further information on the likely effects as soon as is practicable.

Strengths and limitations

National Statistics designation status

The UK Statistics Authority suspended the National Statistics designation of UK trade (PDF, 72.9KB) on 14 November 2014. We have now responded to all of the specific requirements of the Office for Statistics Regulation's (OSR's) reassessment of UK trade. As part of our engagement with the OSR team, we are sharing our continuous improvement and development plans to support UK trade statistics regaining Accredited official statistics status. We welcome feedback on our new trade statistics, developments, and future plans by email to trade@ons.gov.uk.

Trade asymmetries

Asymmetries can be caused by a range of conceptual and measurement variations between the estimation practices of different countries. Statistical agencies are likely to have different source data, estimation methods, and methodological, geographical, and definitional differences. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes more information on UK trade asymmetries. We publish analysis on trade in services asymmetries in our Asymmetries in trade data articles.

More quality and methodology information (QMI) on strengths, limitations, appropriate uses, and how the data were created is available in our UK Trade QMI.