United Kingdom’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries

/ By Country / By

Often called the UK or Britain, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland imported US$634.2 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020, down by -8.4% from $692.5 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of the United Kingdom’s main imported products categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the United Kingdom’s most valuable imports during 2020 for each of the UK’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for over three-fifths (62.7%) of Britain’s import purchases.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for UK imports and each of the top supplier countries.

UK’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to the United Kingdom amounted to $75.5 billion or 11.9% of overall UK imports.

That dollar amount represents an 15.2% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 84.5% of United Kingdom’s imports from mainland China.

  1. Electronic equipment: $16.8 billion
  2. Machinery: $13.2 billion
  3. Other textiles, worn clothing: $5.3 billion
  4. Furniture, lighting, signs: $4.3 billion
  5. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $4.3 billion
  6. Toys, games: $3.9 billion
  7. Plastics: $3.3 billion
  8. Medical, technical equipment: $3.3 billion
  9. Knit or crochet clothing: $1.9 billion
  10. Iron or steel products: $1.6 billion
  11. Rubber: $1.5 billion
  12. Vehicles: $1.3 billion
  13. Footwear: $1.2 billion
  14. Paper: $1 billion
  15. Organic chemicals: $991.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for UK imports from China under the other textiles including worn clothing product category via a 485% gain in revenue, then medical or technical equipment (up 112.2%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (up 82.1%), rubber (up 81.6%), plastics as a material (up 56.8%), and paper (up 36.1%).

Posting the severest declines among United Kingdom’s top 15 imported products were footwear (down -25.1%), knitted or crocheted clothing (down -22.5%) and products made from iron or steel (down -10.9%).

UK’s Main Imports from Germany

In addition to Germany, Britain shares maritime borders with other European countries including Belgium, Denmark, France, Netherlands and Norway. This geographic proximity facilitates trade between these nearby European countries.

In 2020, Germany’s exports to the United Kingdom amounted to $74.4 billion or 11.7% of overall UK imports.

That dollar amount represents an -13.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 77.2% of United Kingdom’s imports from Germany.

  1. Vehicles: $19.4 billion
  2. Machinery: $10.4 billion
  3. Electronic equipment: $5.2 billion
  4. Gems, precious metals: $4 billion
  5. Pharmaceuticals: $3.9 billion
  6. Plastics: $3.4 billion
  7. Medical, technical equipment: $2.9 billion
  8. Organic chemicals: $1.24 billion
  9. Iron or steel products: $1.19 billion
  10. Aluminum: $1.18 billion
  11. Paper: $1.11 billion
  12. Other chemical goods: $1.08 billion
  13. Aircraft, spacecraft: $975.2 million
  14. Furniture, lighting, signs: $840.5 million
  15. Tanning, dyeing extracts: $725.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for UK imports from Germany under the gems and precious metals product category via a 34.8% gain in revenue and miscellaneous chemical goods (up 11.2%).

Posting the severest declines among United Kingdom’s top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -36.2%), vehicles (down -23.8%), machinery (down -17.4%), aluminum (down -15.9%), furniture, lighting and signs (down -13.7%) and paper (down -11.9%).

UK’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States of America’s exports to the United Kingdom amounted to $58.2 billion or 9.2% of overall UK imports.

That dollar amount represents a -13.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 88.9% of United Kingdom’s imports from the United States.

  1. Gems, precious metals: $15.3 billion
  2. Machinery: $12.6 billion
  3. Mineral fuels including oil: $5.5 billion
  4. Electronic equipment: $3.6 billion
  5. Pharmaceuticals: $2.6 billion
  6. Medical, technical equipment: $2.6 billion
  7. Aircraft, spacecraft: $2.4 billion
  8. Wood: $1.3 billion
  9. Plastics: $1.2 billion
  10. Other chemical goods: $925.1 million
  11. Organic chemicals: $887.7 million
  12. Collector items, art, antiques: $727.4 million
  13. Perfumes, cosmetics: $708.7 million
  14. Vehicles: $652.7 million
  15. Books, newspapers, pictures: $618.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for UK imports from the United States under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category via a 26.9% gain in revenue, pharmaceuticals (up 17.5%) then gems and precious metals (up 17%).

Posting the severest declines among United Kingdom’s top 15 imported products were collector items, art and antiques (down -42.6%), vehicles (down -33.4%), machinery (down -28.9%), aircraft and spacecraft (down -27.6%), mineral fuels including oil (down -24%) then electronic equipment (down -22.8%).

UK’s Main Imports from the Netherlands

In 2020, the Netherlands’ exports to the United Kingdom amounted to $46.2 billion or 7.3% of overall UK imports.

That dollar amount represents a -14.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 76.1% of United Kingdom’s imports from the Netherlands.

  1. Electronic equipment: $6.4 billion
  2. Machinery: $5.9 billion
  3. Pharmaceuticals: $5.8 billion
  4. Vehicles: $3.3 billion
  5. Medical, technical equipment: $2.4 billion
  6. Mineral fuels including oil: $2 billion
  7. Plastics: $1.5 billion
  8. Other chemical goods: $1.221 billion
  9. Live trees and plants: $1.219 billion
  10. Organic chemicals: $1.2 billion
  11. Meat: $956.2 million
  12. Knit or crochet clothing: $921.1 million
  13. Vegetables: $914.1 million
  14. Footwear: $761.5 million
  15. Beverages: $673.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for UK imports from Netherlands under the knitted or crocheted clothing product category via a 10.9% gain in revenue, then live trees and plants (up 8.4%).

Posting the severest declines among United Kingdom’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -52.5%), organic chemicals (down -46.7%), vehicles (down -18.1%), machinery (down -17.9%), meat (down -16%) and plastics as a material (down -15.6%).

UK’s Main Imports from France

In 2020, France’s exports to the United Kingdom amounted to $30.1 billion or 4.7% of overall UK imports.

That dollar amount represents a -22.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 68.3% of United Kingdom’s imports from France.

  1. Vehicles: $3.4 billion
  2. Machinery: $2.7 billion
  3. Aircraft, spacecraft: $2.2 billion
  4. Beverages: $1.9 billion
  5. Electronic equipment: $1.6 billion
  6. Pharmaceuticals: $1.5 billion
  7. Gems, precious metals: $1.2 billion
  8. Plastics: $1.14 billion
  9. Perfumes, cosmetics: $1.11 billion
  10. Other chemical goods: $789 million
  11. Mineral fuels including oil: $737.1 million
  12. Cereal, milk preparations: $656.6 million
  13. Medical, technical equipment: $651.2 million
  14. Dairy, eggs, honey: $567.6 million
  15. Organic chemicals: $487.2 million

Not one of the above product categories grew its revenues from 2019 to 2020.

Posting the severest declines among United Kingdom’s top 15 imported products were gems and precious metals (down -60%), mineral fuels including oil (down -41.4%), vehicles (down -33.7%), aircraft and spacecraft (down -27.6%), machinery (down -27.3%) then organic chemicals (down -22.7%).

UK’s Main Imports from Belgium

In 2020, Belgium’s exports to the United Kingdom amounted to $28.8 billion or 4.5% of overall UK imports.

That dollar amount represents a -10.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 76.6% of United Kingdom’s imports from Belgium.

  1. Vehicles: $7.9 billion
  2. Pharmaceuticals: $2.9 billion
  3. Plastics: $1.7 billion
  4. Machinery: $1.4 billion
  5. Gems, precious metals: $1.261 billion
  6. Mineral fuels including oil: $1.257 billion
  7. Medical, technical equipment: $824.4 million
  8. Organic chemicals: $815.8 million
  9. Electronic equipment: $794 million
  10. Footwear: $727.2 million
  11. Vegetable/fruit preparations: $654 million
  12. Other chemical goods: $622.4 million
  13. Knit or crochet clothing: $434 million
  14. Cereal, milk preparations: $401.9 million
  15. Iron and steel: $394.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for UK imports from Belgium under the gems and precious metals product category via a 59.1% gain in revenue, then footwear (up 13.2%), cereal or milk preparations (up 6.1%).

Posting the severest declines among United Kingdom’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -46.3%), mineral fuels including oil (down -34.7%), electronic equipment (down -18.4%), pharmaceuticals (down -17.4%), plastics as a material (down -14.8%) then medical or technical equipment (down -12.6%).

UK’s Main Imports from Russia

In 2020, Russia’s exports to the United Kingdom amounted to $24.5 billion or 3.9% of overall UK imports.

That dollar amount represents a 73.5% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99% of United Kingdom’s imports from Russia.

  1. Gems, precious metals: $19.4 billion
  2. Mineral fuels including oil: $3.9 billion
  3. Wood: $196.4 million
  4. Inorganic chemicals: $132.8 million
  5. Fish: $103.4 million
  6. Fertilizers: $94.2 million
  7. Ores, slag, ash: $87.1 million
  8. Food waste, animal fodder: $69.2 million
  9. Organic chemicals: $62.9 million
  10. Other base metals: $60.1 million
  11. Iron and steel: $59.6 million
  12. Beverages: $51.1 million
  13. Aluminum: $46.9 million
  14. Paper: $27.8 million
  15. Machinery: $24.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for UK imports from Russia under the gems and precious metals product category via a 207.1% gain in revenue, ores, slag and ash (up 59.7%), organic chemicals (up 23.9%) then food waste and animal fodder (up 17.3%).

Posting the severest declines among United Kingdom’s top 15 imported products were aluminum (down -44.1%), miscellaneous base metals (down -42.4%), mineral fuels including oil (down -40.1%), iron and steel as materials (down -33.4%), paper (down -29.6%) then fertilizers (down -14.4%).

UK’s Main Imports from Italy

In 2020, Italy’s exports to the United Kingdom amounted to $23.7 billion or 3.7% of overall UK imports.

That dollar amount represents a -9.7% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 70.3% of United Kingdom’s imports from Italy.

  1. Machinery: $3.3 billion
  2. Vehicles: $2.1 billion
  3. Pharmaceuticals: $1.7 billion
  4. Beverages: $1.162 billion
  5. Electronic equipment: $1.159 billion
  6. Gems, precious metals: $983.7 million
  7. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $818.8 million
  8. Plastics: $796.8 million
  9. Furniture, lighting, signs: $783.2 million
  10. Knit or crochet clothing: $705.4 million
  11. Cereal, milk preparations: $685.4 million
  12. Footwear: $664.5 million
  13. Iron or steel products: $606.6 million
  14. Leather, animal gut articles: $583.4 million
  15. Vegetable/fruit preparations: $563.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for UK imports from Italy under the vegetable or fruit preparations product category via a 14.6% gain in revenue, cereal or milk preparations (up 12.3%) then gems and precious metals (up 9.3%).

Posting the severest declines among United Kingdom’s top 15 imported products were furniture, lighting and signs (down -22.7%), vehicles (down -21.1%), machinery (down -18.8%), products made from iron or steel (down -18.3%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -17.7%) and footwear (down -15.8%).

UK’s Main Imports from Spain

In 2020, Spain’s exports to the United Kingdom amounted to $18.6 billion or 2.9% of overall UK imports.

That dollar amount represents a -12.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 73.3% of United Kingdom’s imports from Spain.

  1. Vehicles: $4.7 billion
  2. Vegetables: $1.2 billion
  3. Fruits, nuts: $1.1 billion
  4. Gems, precious metals: $1 billion
  5. Electronic equipment: $835.7 million
  6. Machinery: $830.2 million
  7. Pharmaceuticals: $705.6 million
  8. Plastics: $543.3 million
  9. Beverages: $529.9 million
  10. Vegetable/fruit preparations: $437.5 million
  11. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $382.8 million
  12. Iron and steel: $369.6 million
  13. Perfumes, cosmetics: $333.9 million
  14. Iron or steel products: $321 million
  15. Knit or crochet clothing: $314.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for UK imports from Spain under the gems and precious metals product category via a 14.9% gain in revenue, beverages (up 13.1%), knitted or crocheted clothing (up 10.3%) then vegetables (up 8%).

Posting the severest declines among United Kingdom’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -33%), vehicles (down -24.7%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -19.6%), electronic equipment (down -11.8%), products made from iron or steel (down -10.3%).

UK’s Main Imports from Ireland

In 2020, Ireland’s exports to the United Kingdom amounted to $17.4 billion or 2.7% of overall UK imports.

That dollar amount represents a -1.4% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 76.2% of United Kingdom’s imports from Ireland.

  1. Pharmaceuticals: $2.3 billion
  2. Organic chemicals: $1.9 billion
  3. Meat: $1.4 billion
  4. Machinery: $1.1 billion
  5. Dairy, eggs, honey: $997.8 million
  6. Electronic equipment: $995.9 million
  7. Cereal, milk preparations: $602.9 million
  8. Perfumes, cosmetics: $556.1 million
  9. Medical, technical equipment: $553.7 million
  10. Plastics: $537.2 million
  11. Live animals: $514.5 million
  12. Meat, seafood preparations: $513.3 million
  13. Food waste, animal fodder: $466.4 million
  14. Other food preparations: $447 million
  15. Beverages: $426.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for UK imports from Ireland under the organic chemicals product category via a 162.8% gain in revenue, food waste or animal fodder (up 11.3%), live animals (up 11.2%), miscellaneous food preparations: (up 10.2%) then cereal or milk preparations (up 9.6%).

Posting the severest declines among United Kingdom’s top 15 imported products were electronic equipment (down -20.7%), meat or seafood preparations (down -20.1%), pharmaceuticals (down -18.5%) then machinery (down -15.1%).

See also

More great research: World’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, China’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, United Kingdom’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, United Kingdom, Borders of the United Kingdom.

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

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