Import from China to UK & Export from UK to China
China has long been seen as a land of opportunity by UK businesses. United Kingdom have enjoyed an increasingly strong trading relationship with the country for many years.
Key statistics:
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UK imports from China £45.2 billion
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UK exports to China £22.3 billion
China was the UK’s fourth largest source of imports in 2017, accounting for 7% of UK imported goods and services.
China was the UK’s sixth largest export market in 2017, accounting for 4% of all UK exports of goods and services.
The UK recorded a trade deficit with China of -£22.9 billion in 2017; a small surplus in services was outweighed by a deficit in goods.
In 2017, UK exports to China were worth £22.3 billion, up from £17.4 billion in 2016, and their highest level on record, surpassing the previous high of £19.1 billion set in 2014.
Imports from China in 2017 were £45.2 billion, a record high. The UK’s trade deficit with China was -£22.9 billion in 2017, down slightly from -£23.9 billion in 2016.
Looking at trade in goods only, the UK exported £18.0 billion to China in 2017, a record high, surpassing the previous high of £15.7 billion in 2014. UK imports of goods from China were £43.6 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of -£25.5 billion in trade in goods.
The UK had a surplus of £2.6 billion on trade in services with China in 2017, exporting £4.3 billion of services to China and importing £1.7 billion.
In 2017, the UK’s single largest import from China was telecoms equipment, valued at £5.7 billion, representing 14% of all UK goods imports from China, followed by miscellaneous manufactured articles (a category that includes plastic articles, toys, games and sporting goods)
valued at £5.2 billion, representing 13% of all UK goods imports from China.
Other imports from China included clothing and apparel, valued at £4.0 billion (10% of goods imports), electrical machinery and equipment, valued at £3.8 billion (9% of goods imports) and office machinery, valued at £3.4 billion (8% of all goods exports).
Combined, these five products groups comprised 54% of all UK goods
imports from China.
See attachment for detailed report on UK China Trade.
Statistics on UK trade with China 2017.pdf
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House of Commons Library – Statistics on UK trade with China