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China-United Kingdom Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $129.39B total volume •China surplus: $61.17B

China → United Kingdom

$95.28B

Exports (2023)

United Kingdom → China

$34.11B

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$61.17B

Surplus for China

Total Trade

$129.39B

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between China and United Kingdom. Green line shows exports from China, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the China-United Kingdom commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

China → United Kingdom Exports

$95.28B
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Highly Diversified
Market Share:
7.6% top product
1Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks
$7.20B
7.6% of exports
2Automatic data processing machines: portable, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display
$5.84B
6.1% of exports
3Vehicles: with only electric motor for propulsion
$4.54B
4.8% of exports
4Communication apparatus (excluding telephone sets or base stations): machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus
$3.39B
3.6% of exports
5Games: video game consoles and machines, other than those of subheading 9504.30
$1.85B
1.9% of exports
6Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils
$1.83B
1.9% of exports
7Electric accumulators: lithium-ion, including separators, whether or not rectangular (including square)
$1.75B
1.8% of exports
8Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys: dolls' carriages: dolls: other toys: reduced-size (scale) models and similar recreational models, working or not: puzzles of all kinds
$1.70B
1.8% of exports
9Biodiesel and mixtures thereof: not containing or containing less than 70% by weight of petroleum oils or oils obtained from bituminous minerals
$1.30B
1.4% of exports
10Metals: silver, unwrought, (but not powder)
$1.18B
1.2% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

China's export portfolio to United Kingdom demonstrates strong diversification across multiple sectors, with telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

United Kingdom → China Imports

$34.11B
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Well Diversified
Critical Imports:
51.1% concentration
1Metals: gold, semi-manufactured
$17.42B
51.1% of imports
2Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1500 but not over 3000cc
$1.87B
5.5% of imports
3Vehicles: with both spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine and electric motor for propulsion, incapable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power
$1.14B
3.3% of imports
4Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3000cc
$1.12B
3.3% of imports
5Oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude
$1.12B
3.3% of imports
6Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
$674.30M
2.0% of imports
7Copper: waste and scrap
$542.21M
1.6% of imports
8Whiskies
$319.74M
0.9% of imports
9Engines: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engines (diesel or semi-diesel engines), of a kind used for other than marine propulsion or the vehicles of chapter 87
$244.06M
0.7% of imports
10Medicaments: containing hormones (but not insulin), adrenal cortex hormones or antibiotics, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
$239.54M
0.7% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

China's import pattern from United Kingdom reveals significant dependencyin metals: gold, semi-manufactured, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

China demonstrates competitive strength in exportingtelephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks to United Kingdom, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 20+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $129.39B trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Major Partnership

Executive Summary: China-United Kingdom Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $129.39 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: China maintains a surplus of $61.17 billion
  • Export Focus: China's primary exports include telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, automatic data processing machines: portable, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display, vehicles: with only electric motor for propulsion
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from United Kingdom include metals: gold, semi-manufactured, vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1500 but not over 3000cc, vehicles: with both spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine and electric motor for propulsion, incapable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationDiversified
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents one of the world's largest trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $129.39B represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with China leveraging its comparative advantages in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

China's specialization in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networkscomplements United Kingdom's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in metals: gold, semi-manufactured.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $129.39B bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationLow
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $129.39B bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $129.39 billion bilateral trade volume represents a major economic driverfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Critical
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks and metals: gold, semi-manufactured demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Diversified
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

China's trade surplus of $61.17 billion strengthens its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Export Advantage

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in automatic data processing machines: portable, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on metals: gold, semi-manufactured, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
High trade imbalance may create supply chain risks
Market Competition
Global competition in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between China and United Kingdom represents a total trade volume of $129.39 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates a favorable trade balance for China, with exports exceeding importsby $61.17 billion.

Export Strengths

China's exports to United Kingdom total $95.28 billion, with competitive advantages in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, representing $7.20B or7.6% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from United Kingdom amount to $34.11 billion, highlighting economic interdependence in metals: gold, semi-manufactured, with Metals: gold, semi-manufactured comprising51.1% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade surplus indicates China's competitive position in this bilateral relationship. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between China and United Kingdom in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023