United Kingdom Balance of Trade
The United Kingdom's trade deficit reached £3.39 billion in August 2025, widening from £3.02 billion in July 2025. This represents a 12.3% increase in the deficit over the two months. The deficit also widened by 1407.3% year-over-year. This change was driven by a faster decline in exports than imports. Goods exports fell by 3.3% in August 2025 with a £0.7 billion decrease in exports to the United States due to international trade policy changes. Services exports saw a steady rise. The United Kingdom's record low balance of trade was -£11.4 billion in January 2022 and record high was £9.13 billion in May 2020.
Monthly Historical Data (1955-2025)
(in Billion GBP)| Month | Balance of Trade (Billion GBP) |
|---|---|
| Aug 2025 | -3.4 |
| Jul 2025 | -3 |
| Jun 2025 | -5 |
| May 2025 | -4.5 |
| Apr 2025 | -6.5 |
| Mar 2025 | -4.9 |
| Feb 2025 | -5.3 |
| Jan 2025 | -2.2 |
| Dec 2024 | -3.2 |
| Nov 2024 | -5.2 |
| Oct 2024 | -4.1 |
| Sep 2024 | 0.4 |
| Aug 2024 | 0.3 |
| Jul 2024 | -4.6 |
| Jun 2024 | -4.5 |
| May 2024 | -4.5 |
| Apr 2024 | -5.8 |
| Mar 2024 | -0.7 |
| Feb 2024 | -0.2 |
| Jan 2024 | -0.1 |
| Dec 2023 | 0.4 |
| Nov 2023 | -0.7 |
| Oct 2023 | -3.3 |
| Sep 2023 | -1.3 |
| Aug 2023 | -3 |
| Jul 2023 | -1.2 |
| Jun 2023 | -2.8 |
| May 2023 | -6.2 |
| Apr 2023 | -1.5 |
| Mar 2023 | -2.5 |
| Feb 2023 | -3.3 |
| Jan 2023 | -3.8 |
| Dec 2022 | -0.9 |
| Nov 2022 | 3.8 |
| Oct 2022 | 5.6 |
| Sep 2022 | 2.1 |
| Aug 2022 | -2.4 |
| Jul 2022 | -2.8 |
| Jun 2022 | -7.7 |
| May 2022 | -7.7 |
| Apr 2022 | -6.9 |
| Mar 2022 | -8.1 |
| Feb 2022 | -7.9 |
| Jan 2022 | -11.4 |
| Dec 2021 | -1.1 |
| Nov 2021 | 0 |
| Oct 2021 | 1.9 |
| Sep 2021 | -4.3 |
| Aug 2021 | -3.9 |
| Jul 2021 | -3.8 |
| Jun 2021 | 0.6 |
| May 2021 | 4.1 |
| Apr 2021 | 2.3 |
| Mar 2021 | 2.8 |
| Feb 2021 | -0.9 |
| Jan 2021 | -2.8 |
| Dec 2020 | -6.4 |
| Nov 2020 | -3.6 |
| Oct 2020 | -1.9 |
| Sep 2020 | -2.4 |
| Aug 2020 | 1.4 |
| Jul 2020 | 1.5 |
| Jun 2020 | 3.7 |
| May 2020 | 9.1 |
| Apr 2020 | 8.1 |
| Mar 2020 | 1.4 |
| Feb 2020 | -1.6 |
| Jan 2020 | 2.5 |
| Dec 2019 | 7.6 |
| Nov 2019 | 4.7 |
| Oct 2019 | -2.6 |
| Sep 2019 | -2.4 |
| Aug 2019 | -2.4 |
| Jul 2019 | 0.3 |
| Jun 2019 | -1 |
| May 2019 | -3.2 |
| Apr 2019 | -5.6 |
| Mar 2019 | -9 |
| Feb 2019 | -9.2 |
| Jan 2019 | -8.4 |
| Dec 2018 | -4.6 |
| Nov 2018 | -3.4 |
| Oct 2018 | -2.9 |
| Sep 2018 | -0.8 |
| Aug 2018 | -3.3 |
| Jul 2018 | -1.2 |
| Jun 2018 | -0.8 |
| May 2018 | -2.6 |
| Apr 2018 | -2.8 |
| Mar 2018 | -3.3 |
| Feb 2018 | -0.8 |
| Jan 2018 | -3.2 |
| Dec 2017 | -2.3 |
| Nov 2017 | -3 |
| Oct 2017 | -1.3 |
| Sep 2017 | -1.7 |
| Aug 2017 | -2.6 |
| Jul 2017 | -2.6 |
| Jun 2017 | -4.2 |
| May 2017 | -2.5 |
| Apr 2017 | -0.9 |
| Mar 2017 | -3 |
| Feb 2017 | -1.7 |
| Jan 2017 | -2 |
| Dec 2016 | -2.4 |
| Nov 2016 | -2.9 |
| Oct 2016 | -1.8 |
| Sep 2016 | -5.4 |
| Aug 2016 | -6.4 |
| Jul 2016 | -4.8 |
| Jun 2016 | -3.6 |
| May 2016 | -0.3 |
| Apr 2016 | -2.4 |
| Mar 2016 | -3.4 |
| Feb 2016 | -3.4 |
| Jan 2016 | -0.9 |
| Dec 2015 | -0.9 |
| Nov 2015 | -2.1 |
| Oct 2015 | -4.4 |
| Sep 2015 | -2.3 |
| Aug 2015 | -2 |
| Jul 2015 | -3.6 |
| Jun 2015 | -1.1 |
| May 2015 | -0.5 |
| Apr 2015 | -1.4 |
| Mar 2015 | -1.8 |
| Feb 2015 | -4.2 |
| Jan 2015 | -4.7 |
| Dec 2014 | -6.9 |
| Nov 2014 | -4.2 |
| Oct 2014 | -3.2 |
| Sep 2014 | -2.4 |
| Aug 2014 | -3 |
| Jul 2014 | -3.9 |
| Jun 2014 | -2.4 |
| May 2014 | -1.4 |
| Apr 2014 | -1.9 |
| Mar 2014 | -1.4 |
| Feb 2014 | -2.2 |
| Jan 2014 | -3.2 |
| Dec 2013 | -1.5 |
| Nov 2013 | -4.7 |
| Oct 2013 | -5 |
| Sep 2013 | -3.2 |
| Aug 2013 | -0.6 |
| Jul 2013 | -2.1 |
| Jun 2013 | -2.6 |
| May 2013 | -2.7 |
| Apr 2013 | -1.4 |
| Mar 2013 | -0.4 |
| Feb 2013 | -0.3 |
| Jan 2013 | -0.8 |
| Dec 2012 | -1.1 |
| Nov 2012 | -1.3 |
| Oct 2012 | -2 |
| Sep 2012 | -1.1 |
| Aug 2012 | -2.4 |
| Jul 2012 | -0.5 |
| Jun 2012 | -3.1 |
| May 2012 | -1.9 |
| Apr 2012 | -3.3 |
| Mar 2012 | 0 |
| Feb 2012 | 0.5 |
| Jan 2012 | -0.8 |
| Dec 2011 | -0.2 |
| Nov 2011 | -1.7 |
| Oct 2011 | -1.1 |
| Sep 2011 | -2.6 |
| Aug 2011 | -1.2 |
| Jul 2011 | -1.5 |
| Jun 2011 | -1.7 |
| May 2011 | -4.2 |
| Apr 2011 | 0.2 |
| Mar 2011 | -0.5 |
| Feb 2011 | 1.6 |
| Jan 2011 | -0.2 |
| Dec 2010 | -2.9 |
| Nov 2010 | -2.4 |
| Oct 2010 | -2.1 |
| Sep 2010 | -2.9 |
| Aug 2010 | -2.5 |
| Jul 2010 | -2.4 |
| Jun 2010 | -1.8 |
| May 2010 | -1.8 |
| Apr 2010 | -1.5 |
| Mar 2010 | -2.5 |
| Feb 2010 | 0 |
| Jan 2010 | -2.3 |
| Dec 2009 | -1.4 |
| Nov 2009 | -1.1 |
| Oct 2009 | -1.5 |
| Sep 2009 | -2.5 |
| Aug 2009 | -1.8 |
| Jul 2009 | -1.7 |
| Jun 2009 | -1.8 |
| May 2009 | -0.9 |
| Apr 2009 | -1.8 |
| Mar 2009 | -2.3 |
| Feb 2009 | -1.2 |
| Jan 2009 | -1.3 |
| Dec 2008 | -0.4 |
| Nov 2008 | -1.4 |
| Oct 2008 | -0.9 |
| Sep 2008 | -1.3 |
| Aug 2008 | -2.3 |
| Jul 2008 | -2.9 |
| Jun 2008 | -3.9 |
| May 2008 | -2 |
| Apr 2008 | -2.6 |
| Mar 2008 | -2.8 |
| Feb 2008 | -3.2 |
| Jan 2008 | -3.2 |
| Dec 2007 | -2.8 |
| Nov 2007 | -2.4 |
| Oct 2007 | -2.5 |
| Sep 2007 | -2.9 |
| Aug 2007 | -2.5 |
| Jul 2007 | -2.9 |
| Jun 2007 | -2.4 |
| May 2007 | -1.8 |
| Apr 2007 | -1.4 |
| Mar 2007 | -3.2 |
| Feb 2007 | -3.1 |
| Jan 2007 | -2.2 |
| Dec 2006 | -2.3 |
| Nov 2006 | -1.9 |
| Oct 2006 | -1.5 |
| Sep 2006 | -1.6 |
| Aug 2006 | -2.2 |
| Jul 2006 | -2.2 |
| Jun 2006 | -2 |
| May 2006 | -3.1 |
| Apr 2006 | -2.3 |
| Mar 2006 | -2 |
| Feb 2006 | -3.1 |
| Jan 2006 | -3.5 |
| Dec 2005 | -2.7 |
| Nov 2005 | -2.6 |
| Oct 2005 | -1.9 |
| Sep 2005 | -2.2 |
| Aug 2005 | -3 |
| Jul 2005 | -2.6 |
| Jun 2005 | -1.8 |
| May 2005 | -2.3 |
| Apr 2005 | -2.7 |
| Mar 2005 | -2.8 |
| Feb 2005 | -2.5 |
| Jan 2005 | -2.8 |
| Dec 2004 | -2 |
| Nov 2004 | -2.1 |
| Oct 2004 | -2.8 |
| Sep 2004 | -2.5 |
| Aug 2004 | -3.1 |
| Jul 2004 | -2.8 |
| Jun 2004 | -3.1 |
| May 2004 | -2.7 |
| Apr 2004 | -2.2 |
| Mar 2004 | -2.1 |
| Feb 2004 | -2.1 |
| Jan 2004 | -3 |
| Dec 2003 | -2.5 |
| Nov 2003 | -2.7 |
| Oct 2003 | -2.5 |
| Sep 2003 | -3.4 |
| Aug 2003 | -1.9 |
| Jul 2003 | -1.9 |
| Jun 2003 | -3.1 |
| May 2003 | -2.3 |
| Apr 2003 | -0.8 |
| Mar 2003 | -2.5 |
| Feb 2003 | -1.6 |
| Jan 2003 | -1.6 |
| Dec 2002 | -2.2 |
| Nov 2002 | -3.6 |
| Oct 2002 | -2.9 |
| Sep 2002 | -2 |
| Aug 2002 | -2 |
| Jul 2002 | -2.2 |
| Jun 2002 | -2.5 |
| May 2002 | -1.8 |
| Apr 2002 | -2.7 |
| Mar 2002 | -2.3 |
| Feb 2002 | -2.3 |
| Jan 2002 | -1.4 |
| Dec 2001 | -2.1 |
| Nov 2001 | -1.7 |
| Oct 2001 | -1.6 |
| Sep 2001 | -1.6 |
| Aug 2001 | -2.5 |
| Jul 2001 | -1.9 |
| Jun 2001 | -2.3 |
| May 2001 | -1.8 |
| Apr 2001 | -1.5 |
| Mar 2001 | -1.2 |
| Feb 2001 | -0.7 |
| Jan 2001 | -0.8 |
| Dec 2000 | -1.5 |
| Nov 2000 | -1.9 |
| Oct 2000 | -1.4 |
| Sep 2000 | -1.2 |
| Aug 2000 | -0.9 |
| Jul 2000 | -2 |
| Jun 2000 | -0.4 |
| May 2000 | -0.6 |
| Apr 2000 | -0.9 |
| Mar 2000 | -0.4 |
| Feb 2000 | -0.8 |
| Jan 2000 | -0.9 |
| Dec 1999 | -0.5 |
| Nov 1999 | -0.6 |
| Oct 1999 | -0.6 |
| Sep 1999 | -0.4 |
| Aug 1999 | -0.8 |
| Jul 1999 | -1 |
| Jun 1999 | -1.3 |
| May 1999 | -0.6 |
| Apr 1999 | -1 |
| Mar 1999 | -1.3 |
| Feb 1999 | -1.3 |
| Jan 1999 | -1.3 |
| Dec 1998 | -0.5 |
| Nov 1998 | -0.6 |
| Oct 1998 | -0.4 |
| Sep 1998 | -1 |
| Aug 1998 | -0.3 |
| Jul 1998 | -0.5 |
| Jun 1998 | -0.6 |
| May 1998 | -0.6 |
| Apr 1998 | 0 |
| Mar 1998 | -0.6 |
| Feb 1998 | -0.2 |
| Jan 1998 | 0.6 |
| Dec 1997 | 0.5 |
| Nov 1997 | 0.2 |
| Oct 1997 | 0.4 |
| Sep 1997 | 0.8 |
| Aug 1997 | 0.8 |
| Jul 1997 | 0 |
| Jun 1997 | -0.2 |
| May 1997 | 0.2 |
| Apr 1997 | 0.3 |
| Mar 1997 | 0 |
| Feb 1997 | 1 |
| Jan 1997 | 1.3 |
| Dec 1996 | 0.2 |
| Nov 1996 | 0.4 |
| Oct 1996 | 0.6 |
| Sep 1996 | 0 |
| Aug 1996 | 0.4 |
| Jul 1996 | 0.2 |
| Jun 1996 | 0.1 |
| May 1996 | 0.1 |
| Apr 1996 | -0.4 |
| Mar 1996 | -0.3 |
| Feb 1996 | -0.4 |
| Jan 1996 | -0.3 |
| Dec 1995 | 0.2 |
| Nov 1995 | 0.5 |
| Oct 1995 | -0.7 |
| Sep 1995 | -0.6 |
| Aug 1995 | -0.6 |
| Jul 1995 | -0.4 |
| Jun 1995 | -0.6 |
| May 1995 | -0.5 |
| Apr 1995 | -0.2 |
| Mar 1995 | 0.8 |
| Feb 1995 | 0.7 |
| Jan 1995 | 0.6 |
| Dec 1994 | -0.7 |
| Nov 1994 | 0 |
| Oct 1994 | 0.1 |
| Sep 1994 | -0.1 |
| Aug 1994 | 0.2 |
| Jul 1994 | -0.5 |
| Jun 1994 | -0.2 |
| May 1994 | -0.8 |
| Apr 1994 | -0.3 |
| Mar 1994 | -0.4 |
| Feb 1994 | -0.4 |
| Jan 1994 | 0 |
| Dec 1993 | -0.3 |
| Nov 1993 | -0.3 |
| Oct 1993 | -0.2 |
| Sep 1993 | -0.4 |
| Aug 1993 | 0 |
| Jul 1993 | -0.7 |
| Jun 1993 | -0.5 |
| May 1993 | -0.5 |
| Apr 1993 | -0.7 |
| Mar 1993 | -0.3 |
| Feb 1993 | -0.5 |
| Jan 1993 | -0.4 |
| Dec 1992 | -0.9 |
| Nov 1992 | -0.5 |
| Oct 1992 | -0.6 |
| Sep 1992 | -0.6 |
| Aug 1992 | -0.9 |
| Jul 1992 | -0.9 |
| Jun 1992 | -0.6 |
| May 1992 | -0.3 |
| Apr 1992 | -0.6 |
| Mar 1992 | -0.1 |
| Feb 1992 | -0.3 |
| Jan 1992 | -0.4 |
| Dec 1991 | -1 |
| Sep 1991 | -0.7 |
| Jun 1991 | -0.6 |
| Mar 1991 | -1.5 |
| Dec 1990 | -1.8 |
| Sep 1990 | -2.4 |
| Jun 1990 | -3.8 |
| Mar 1990 | -4.1 |
| Dec 1989 | -3.4 |
| Sep 1989 | -5.3 |
| Jun 1989 | -5.1 |
| Mar 1989 | -5.1 |
| Dec 1988 | -5.3 |
| Sep 1988 | -4 |
| Jun 1988 | -3.2 |
| Mar 1988 | -2.7 |
| Dec 1987 | -2 |
| Sep 1987 | -0.9 |
| Jun 1987 | -0.7 |
| Mar 1987 | 0.4 |
| Dec 1986 | -0.8 |
| Sep 1986 | -1 |
| Jun 1986 | -0.3 |
| Mar 1986 | 0.7 |
| Dec 1985 | 1.5 |
| Sep 1985 | 1.7 |
| Jun 1985 | 2 |
| Mar 1985 | -0.1 |
| Dec 1984 | -0.3 |
| Sep 1984 | 0 |
| Jun 1984 | 0 |
| Mar 1984 | 1 |
| Dec 1983 | 0.8 |
| Sep 1983 | 1.2 |
| Jun 1983 | 0.6 |
| Mar 1983 | 1.1 |
| Dec 1982 | 2 |
| Sep 1982 | 1.5 |
| Jun 1982 | 1.1 |
| Mar 1982 | 1.5 |
| Dec 1981 | 1.5 |
| Sep 1981 | 1.2 |
| Jun 1981 | 2.3 |
| Mar 1981 | 2.9 |
| Dec 1980 | 2.3 |
| Sep 1980 | 2 |
| Jun 1980 | 0.8 |
| Mar 1980 | 0.7 |
| Dec 1979 | 0.5 |
| Sep 1979 | 0.6 |
| Jun 1979 | 0.5 |
| Mar 1979 | -0.4 |
| Dec 1978 | 0.8 |
| Sep 1978 | 0.6 |
| Jun 1978 | 0.8 |
| Mar 1978 | 0.4 |
| Dec 1977 | 0.7 |
| Sep 1977 | 0.8 |
| Jun 1977 | 0 |
| Mar 1977 | -0.1 |
| Dec 1976 | -0.3 |
| Sep 1976 | -0.5 |
| Jun 1976 | -0.4 |
| Mar 1976 | 0.1 |
| Dec 1975 | -0.2 |
| Sep 1975 | -0.6 |
| Jun 1975 | -0.3 |
| Mar 1975 | -0.5 |
| Dec 1974 | -1 |
| Sep 1974 | -0.9 |
| Jun 1974 | -1.1 |
| Mar 1974 | -1 |
| Dec 1973 | -0.7 |
| Sep 1973 | -0.5 |
| Jun 1973 | -0.3 |
| Mar 1973 | -0.2 |
| Dec 1972 | 0 |
| Sep 1972 | -0.2 |
| Jun 1972 | 0.1 |
| Mar 1972 | 0.1 |
| Dec 1971 | 0.2 |
| Sep 1971 | 0.3 |
| Jun 1971 | 0.2 |
| Mar 1971 | 0.1 |
| Dec 1970 | 0.1 |
| Sep 1970 | 0 |
| Jun 1970 | 0 |
| Mar 1970 | 0.2 |
| Dec 1969 | 0.1 |
| Sep 1969 | 0.1 |
| Jun 1969 | 0 |
| Mar 1969 | -0.1 |
| Dec 1968 | 0 |
| Sep 1968 | -0.1 |
| Jun 1968 | -0.1 |
| Mar 1968 | -0.1 |
| Dec 1967 | -0.3 |
| Sep 1967 | -0.1 |
| Jun 1967 | -0.1 |
| Mar 1967 | 0 |
| Dec 1966 | 0.1 |
| Sep 1966 | 0 |
| Jun 1966 | -0.1 |
| Mar 1966 | -0.1 |
| Dec 1965 | -0.1 |
| Sep 1965 | -0.1 |
| Jun 1965 | -0.1 |
| Mar 1965 | -0.1 |
| Dec 1964 | -0.2 |
| Sep 1964 | -0.2 |
| Jun 1964 | -0.1 |
| Mar 1964 | -0.2 |
| Dec 1963 | -0.1 |
| Sep 1963 | 0 |
| Jun 1963 | 0 |
| Mar 1963 | 0 |
| Dec 1962 | 0 |
| Sep 1962 | 0 |
| Jun 1962 | 0 |
| Mar 1962 | 0 |
| Dec 1961 | 0 |
| Sep 1961 | 0 |
| Jun 1961 | 0 |
| Mar 1961 | 0 |
| Dec 1960 | -0.1 |
| Sep 1960 | -0.1 |
| Jun 1960 | -0.1 |
| Mar 1960 | 0 |
| Dec 1959 | 0 |
| Sep 1959 | 0 |
| Jun 1959 | 0 |
| Mar 1959 | 0 |
| Dec 1958 | 0 |
| Sep 1958 | 0 |
| Jun 1958 | 0 |
| Mar 1958 | 0.1 |
| Dec 1957 | 0.1 |
| Sep 1957 | 0 |
| Jun 1957 | 0 |
| Mar 1957 | 0 |
| Dec 1956 | 0 |
| Sep 1956 | 0 |
| Jun 1956 | 0 |
| Mar 1956 | 0 |
| Dec 1955 | -0.1 |
| Sep 1955 | -0.1 |
| Jun 1955 | -0.1 |
| Mar 1955 | -0.1 |
Recent Events
| datetime | event | actual | previous | consensus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-16 02:00 AM | Balance of Trade (Aug) | -£3.39B | -£3.02B | - |
| 2025-09-12 02:00 AM | Balance of Trade (Jul) | -£5.26B | -£5.02B | - |
| 2021-02-12 02:00 AM | Balance of Trade (Dec) | -£6.2B | -£6.6B | - |
Next Release Date :
United Kingdom Balance of Trade : Definition
The UK's balance of trade shows the difference between its exports and imports of goods and services, denominated in GBP. A trade surplus occurs when exports exceed imports while a trade deficit indicates the opposite.
Related Indicators
| Indicator | Last Value | Prior Value | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Exports | $508.69B | $521.21B | 2024 |
| Annual Imports | $809.21B | $791.66B | 2024 |
| Exports | £77.4B | £78.4B | Aug'25 |
| Exports (% GDP) | 30.64% | 31.98% | 2024 |
| FDI Inflows (% GDP) | 0.1% | 0.41% | 2024 |
| Imports | £80.8B | £81.4B | Aug'25 |
| Imports (% GDP) | 31.77% | 33.05% | 2024 |
| Net Trade (Goods & Services, BoP) | -$41.22B | -$36.25B | 2024 |
| Tariff Rate | 1.13% | 1% | 2022 |
| Trade (% GDP) | 62.41% | 65.03% | 2024 |