UK Trade Deficit Narrows in April

The United Kingdom trade deficit declined to £8.44 billion in April 2026, down from £9.66 billion in the previous month. Exports grew 1.1% month-on-month to a three-month high of £79.97 billion, while imports fell 0.4% to £88.41 billion. Goods exports rose 2.4% to £33.11 billion, driven by higher shipments to both EU and non-EU countries, which rose 2.6% each. Exports to the EU increased due to a £0.4 billion rise in machinery and transport equipment and aircraft to Germany. Services exports ticked up 0.2% to £46.86 billion. On the import side, goods imports fell 0.7% to £59.16 billion, with imports from non-EU countries declining 1.2%, mainly due to a £0.2 billion decline in fuel imports. Meanwhile, imports from EU countries grew 4.0%, supported by higher imports of fuel, machinery and transport equipment, along with chemicals. Services imports, meanwhile, edged up 0.1% to £29.25 billion.

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.

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.