United Kingdom

United Kingdom

View Profile →
↔
China

United Kingdom-China Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $129.39B total volume •United Kingdom deficit: $61.17B

United Kingdom → China

$34.11B

Exports (2023)

China → United Kingdom

$95.28B

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$61.17B

Deficit for United Kingdom

Total Trade

$129.39B

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

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

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

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

United Kingdom → China Exports

$34.11B
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Highly Diversified
Market Share:
51.1% top product
1Metals: gold, semi-manufactured
$17.42B
51.1% of exports
2Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1500 but not over 3000cc
$1.87B
5.5% of exports
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 exports
4Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3000cc
$1.12B
3.3% of exports
5Oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude
$1.12B
3.3% of exports
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 exports
7Copper: waste and scrap
$542.21M
1.6% of exports
8Whiskies
$319.74M
0.9% of exports
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 exports
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 exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

United Kingdom's export portfolio to China demonstrates strong diversification across multiple sectors, with metals: gold, semi-manufactured representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

China → United Kingdom Imports

$95.28B
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Well Diversified
Critical Imports:
7.6% concentration
1Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks
$7.20B
7.6% of imports
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 imports
3Vehicles: with only electric motor for propulsion
$4.54B
4.8% of imports
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 imports
5Games: video game consoles and machines, other than those of subheading 9504.30
$1.85B
1.9% of imports
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 imports
7Electric accumulators: lithium-ion, including separators, whether or not rectangular (including square)
$1.75B
1.8% of imports
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 imports
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 imports
10Metals: silver, unwrought, (but not powder)
$1.18B
1.2% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

United Kingdom's import pattern from China reveals significant dependencyin telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

United Kingdom demonstrates competitive strength in exportingmetals: gold, semi-manufactured to China, 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: United Kingdom-China Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $129.39 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: United Kingdom maintains a deficit of $61.17 billion
  • Export Focus: United Kingdom's primary exports 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
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from China 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

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 United Kingdom leveraging its comparative advantages in metals: gold, semi-manufactured.

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

United Kingdom's specialization in metals: gold, semi-manufacturedcomplements China's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks.

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

Supply Chain Integration: Diversified
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

United Kingdom's trade deficit of $61.17 billion impacts its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Import Dependency

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1500 but not over 3000cc present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, 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 metals: gold, semi-manufactured 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 United Kingdom and China represents a total trade volume of $129.39 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for United Kingdom, with imports exceeding exportsby $61.17 billion.

Export Strengths

United Kingdom's exports to China total $34.11 billion, with competitive advantages in metals: gold, semi-manufactured, representing $17.42B or51.1% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from China amount to $95.28 billion, highlighting economic interdependence in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, with Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks comprising7.6% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates United Kingdom's strategic sourcing from China. 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 United Kingdom and China in multiple formats.

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