The United Kingdom trade deficit widened to £9.66 billion in March 2026, up from an upwardly revised £5.34 billion in the previous month, marking the largest trade gap since January 2022. Exports rose 0.2% month-on-month to £79.13 billion, while imports grew at a faster pace of 5.3% to a three-month high of £88.78 billion. Goods exports edged up 0.1% to £32.35 billion, driven by higher shipments to the EU (3.9%), while those to non-EU countries remained relatively unchanged. Exports to the EU increased due to a £0.6 billion rise in fuel exports and a £0.2 billion increase in chemical exports. Services exports ticked up 0.2% to £46.78 billion. On the import side, goods imports inched up 0.1% to £59.57 billion, with imports from the EU rising 2.7%, mainly driven by a £0.5 billion increase in fuel imports. Imports from non-EU countries rose 7.5%, supported by higher imports of machinery and transport equipment, along with fuel. Meanwhile, services imports were unchanged at £29.21 billion. source: Office for National Statistics

The United Kingdom recorded a trade deficit of 9658 GBP Million in March of 2026. Balance of Trade in the United Kingdom averaged -1205.49 GBP Million from 1955 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 9471.00 GBP Million in May of 2020 and a record low of -10899.00 GBP Million in January of 2022. This page provides - United Kingdom Balance of Trade - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. United Kingdom Balance of Trade - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on May of 2026.

The United Kingdom recorded a trade deficit of 9658 GBP Million in March of 2026. Balance of Trade in the United Kingdom is expected to be -3600.00 GBP Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United Kingdom Balance of Trade is projected to trend around -2500.00 GBP Million in 2027 and -2200.00 GBP Million in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-04-16 06:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Feb £-0.720B £3.018B £-3.6B
2026-05-14 06:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Mar £-9.658B £-5.339B £ -3.4B
2026-06-12 06:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Apr £-9.658B £-4.1B



Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Exports 79126.00 78975.00 GBP Million Mar 2026
Goods Exports 32350.00 32308.00 GBP Million Mar 2026
Goods Imports 59568.00 55107.00 GBP Million Mar 2026
Goods Trade Balance -27218.00 -22799.00 GBP Million Mar 2026
Goods Trade Balance Non-EU -15195.00 -10944.00 GBP Million Mar 2026
Imports 88784.00 84314.00 GBP Million Mar 2026

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade -9658.00 -720.00 GBP Million Mar 2026
Capital Flows 8556.00 23510.00 GBP Million Dec 2025
Current Account -18392.00 -10689.00 GBP Million Dec 2025
Current Account to GDP -2.40 -3.00 percent of GDP Dec 2025
External Debt 8221019.00 8234887.00 GBP Million Dec 2025
Net Foreign Direct Investment 25417.00 23315.00 GBP Million Dec 2025
GDP Net Trade Contribution -0.19 -0.29 percentage points Mar 2026


United Kingdom Balance of Trade
The UK's trade balance has been in deficit since 1998, due to deficits in trade in goods which are partly offset by surpluses in trade in services. The level of total UK trade in goods as a proportion of total trade in goods and services has been gradually declining since 1986 after peaking at 75 percent in 1985. This is consistent with the rising share of UK trade in services (about 38 percent as of 2021). The UK has trade deficits with China, Norway, Germany, Spain, Poland, Russia, Italy and India; and surpluses with the United States, Ireland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-9658.00 -720.00 9471.00 -10899.00 1955 - 2026 GBP Million Monthly
Current Prices, SA

News Stream
UK Trade Gap Widens to Largest Since 2022
The United Kingdom trade deficit widened to £9.66 billion in March 2026, up from an upwardly revised £5.34 billion in the previous month, marking the largest trade gap since January 2022. Exports rose 0.2% month-on-month to £79.13 billion, while imports grew at a faster pace of 5.3% to a three-month high of £88.78 billion. Goods exports edged up 0.1% to £32.35 billion, driven by higher shipments to the EU (3.9%), while those to non-EU countries remained relatively unchanged. Exports to the EU increased due to a £0.6 billion rise in fuel exports and a £0.2 billion increase in chemical exports. Services exports ticked up 0.2% to £46.78 billion. On the import side, goods imports inched up 0.1% to £59.57 billion, with imports from the EU rising 2.7%, mainly driven by a £0.5 billion increase in fuel imports. Imports from non-EU countries rose 7.5%, supported by higher imports of machinery and transport equipment, along with fuel. Meanwhile, services imports were unchanged at £29.21 billion.
2026-05-14
UK Trade Balance Swings to Deficit
The UK posted a trade deficit of £0.72 billion in February 2026, shifting from a downwardly revised surplus of £3.02 billion in the previous month, as exports fell while imports rose. Exports dropped 1.5% mom to £80.20 billion, while imports grew 3.2% to a three-month high of £80.92 billion. Goods exports declined 3.9% to £33.26 billion, weighed down by lower shipments to both the EU (-0.7%) and non-EU countries (-2.3%). Exports to the EU fell due to small declines across several commodities. Exports to non-EU markets were driven by a £0.3 billion fall in chemical exports, along with £0.2 billion decreases in exports of both machinery and transport equipment, and miscellaneous manufactures. In contrast, exports of goods to the US rose 11.3%, amid higher machinery and transport equipment, and material manufactures. Services exports ticked up 0.3% to £46.95 billion. On the import side, goods imports grew 4.7% to £52.05 billion, while services imports rose 0.6% to £28.88 billion.
2026-04-16
UK Trade Balance Swings to Surplus
The UK recorded a trade surplus of £3.92 billion in January 2026, a sharp reversal from a £4.34 billion deficit in the previous month. This marks the first surplus since September 2024, as exports increased and imports declined. Exports rose 7.2% month-on-month to a record £82.51 billion, while imports fell 3.3% to a one-year low of £78.59 billion. Goods exports climbed 6.7% to £35.53 billion, driven by higher shipments to both EU (6.2%) and non-EU countries (7.1%). Exports to the EU was due to increases in machinery and transport equipment as well as fuel exports. Exports to non-EU markets were led by chemicals, particularly medicinal and pharmaceutical products to China, Turkey, and Brazil. In contrast, exports of goods to the US fell 11.3%, amid lower sales of machinery and transport equipment, specifically cars. Services exports edged up 0.2% to £46.98 billion. On the import side, goods imports decreased 0.6% to £49.98 billion, while services imports rose 0.4% to £28.61 billion.
2026-03-13