Written by 
See this visualization first on the Voronoi app.
The UK’s Major Trade Partners in One Chart
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
The UK’s $3.6 trillion economy is sixth largest in the world and is a key trade partner for many countries around the world.
But who is the UK trading with, exactly?
We rank and visualize the country’s key import and export partners according to 2023 data sourced from the Office for National Statistics.
At the top of the list, the U.S., and Germany are the top two sources and destinations for British imports and exports. But what are the goods being sent and received, and who else is in the ranks?
We take a look below.
Ranked: UK’s Import Sources and Export Markets
The UK imported goods worth nearly £74 billion from Germany in 2023, accounting for 13% of its £518 billion import bill. Cars, machinery, and medicines were key import categories.
| Rank | UK Import Partners | 2023 Imports | Share of All Imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇩🇪 Germany | £73.8B | 13% |
| 2 | 🇺🇸 U.S. | £57.9B | 10% |
| 3 | 🇨🇳 China | £56.2B | 10% |
| 4 | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | £53.2B | 9% |
| 5 | 🇫🇷 France | £41.3B | 7% |
| 6 | 🇧🇪 Belgium | £29.2B | 5% |
| 7 | 🇳🇴 Norway | £27.2B | 5% |
| 8 | 🇮🇹 Italy | £23.0B | 4% |
| 9 | 🇪🇸 Spain | £19.9B | 3% |
| 10 | 🇮🇪 Ireland | £19.5B | 3% |
| 11 | 🇵🇱 Poland | £13.8B | 2% |
| 12 | 🇹🇷 Türkiye | £11.3B | 2% |
| 13 | 🇮🇳 India | £9.7B | 2% |
| 14 | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | £9.3B | 2% |
| N/A | 🌍 RoW | £136.0B | 23% |
| 🌐 Total | £581.2B | 100% |
Note: ℹ️ This data doesn’t include services trade.
The U.S. (£58B) and China (£56B) round out the top three import partners, together making up one-third of all British imports.
Oil and gas are the largest category of goods sourced from America while China supplied Britain with electronics.
And now a look at exports.
| Rank | UK Export Partners | 2023 Exports | Share of Total Exports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇺🇸 U.S. | £60.4B | 15% |
| 2 | 🇩🇪 Germany | £33.8B | 9% |
| 3 | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | £30.9B | 8% |
| 4 | 🇮🇪 Ireland | £28.1B | 7% |
| 5 | 🇫🇷 France | £24.8B | 6% |
| 6 | 🇨🇳 China | £21.8B | 6% |
| 7 | 🇧🇪 Belgium | £17.6B | 4% |
| 8 | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | £12.8B | 3% |
| 9 | 🇮🇹 Italy | £10.4B | 3% |
| 10 | 🇪🇸 Spain | £10.1B | 3% |
| 11 | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong | £9.8B | 2% |
| 12 | 🇦🇪 UAE | £7.4B | 2% |
| 13 | 🇵🇱 Poland | £7.2B | 2% |
| 14 | 🇨🇦 Canada | £7.1B | 2% |
| N/A | 🌍 RoW | £111.2B | 28% |
| 🌐 Total | £393.5B | 100% |
Note: ℹ️ This data doesn’t include services trade.
Here the U.S. and Germany switch spots, and there’s more of a difference between the two. Fifteen percent of all British exports (worth £60B) end up in the U.S., compared to only 9% to Germany (worth £34B).
And here’s a fun phenomenon: the categories of goods are now switched for exports as well. The UK largely sends medicines to America and crude oil to Germany (though medicines are also a close second).
What UK Trade Data Reveals About Global Trade
Looking at where the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies are located might help explain what’s going on. All three countries are home to pharma giants, who target markets across the globe.
There are other interesting observations in the trade data. Norway, Türkiye, and India are in the top 10 import sources, but not in export markets. Meanwhile, Hong Kong, the UAE, and Canada are in the top 10 export destinations but not on the import list.
Finally, the UK may have left the EU in 2020, but the bloc is still its single largest trading partner: at 46% and 42% of imports and exports respectively.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
This visualization was prompted by a reader request on another post of ours: EU’s Major Trade Partners in One Chart. Have more requests? Find us on the app or comment below.