Total imports of goods in the UK increased by 1.5% in December, driven by a £0.6B increase in imports from non-EU countries as imports from EU nations remained flat.
- Imports from non-EU economies remain higher than from EU economies for the 12th straight month and continue to be driven by growing imports of fuels.
- Total exports of goods rose by 3.9% in December 2021, driven by a £1.0 billion increase in exports to EU nations.
- For the full year, imports expanded by 8.4% in 2020, with exports increasing 4.9% over the same period.
- The United States remains the UK’s single destination for exports valued at £47.1 billion, followed by Germany at £29.38 billion.
Despite concerns of disruption to trade after the end of the transition exports, exports to the EU rose by £1 billion in December, with chemical exports and machinery contributing to the largest proportion of the surge.
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Source: Office for National Statistics
