UK trade May 2025

11th July 2025

The value of goods imports increased by £0.6 billion (1.2%) in May 2025, with a rise in imports from both EU and non-EU countries.

The value of goods exports increased by £0.6 billion (2.2%) in May 2025, with an increase in exports to both EU and non-EU countries.

Exports of goods to the United States, including precious metals, rose by £0.3 billion in May 2025 following a substantial decrease the previous month, and remained relatively low.

The total goods and services trade deficit widened by £6.7 billion to £13.2 billion in the three months to May 2025, because of a large rise in goods imports and a fall in goods exports.

The trade in goods deficit widened by £6.1 billion to £61.0 billion in the three months to May 2025, while the trade in services surplus is estimated to have narrowed by £0.6 billion to £47.8 billion.

UK trade with the United States
Exports of goods to the United States, including precious metals, rose by £0.3 billion in May 2025, following a substantial decrease the previous month (Figure 3). This increase in exports was because of a rise in chemical exports, driven by increased exports of inorganic chemicals. The value of goods exports to the United States in May 2025 remained relatively low.

Imports of goods from the United States, including precious metals, decreased by £0.9 billion in May 2025 because of falls in imports of unspecified goods, fuels, and machinery and transport equipment. Fuel imports fell because of a decrease in imports of gas and crude oil, while imports of machinery and transport equipment fell because of lower imports of ships and aircraft.

President Trump formally announced a range of tariffs on imports of goods to the United States on 2 April 2025, with imports from the UK subject to a blanket 10% tariff and imports of steel and aluminium, and cars and car parts subject to a higher 25% tariff.

The UK government subsequently announced the signing of a trade deal between the United States and the UK on 8 May 2025. The deal includes lowering the tariff on UK car exports to the United States and removing tariffs on UK aluminium and steel exports. All other commodities will remain subject to the 10% blanket tariff on exports. The implementation of this trade deal was signed off by President Trump on 16 June 2025, with the trade deal coming into force from 30 June 2025.

There have been considerable changes in the United States international trade policy in recent months, which has posed challenges for UK businesses. The Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) (Excel, 1.42MB) reports that, of businesses surveyed between 19 May 2025 and 1 June 2025, 6.1% had experienced additional costs, 4.3% had experienced reduced demand, and 2.9% had experienced supply chain disruption over the previous month. These figures include all businesses surveyed, not only those that had traded internationally.

It is important to note that monthly data can be erratic, and therefore movements should be treated with caution. We will continue to monitor UK trade with the United States in future releases following the implementation of tariffs and the subsequently agreed trade deal.

More detailed estimates on the UK's trade in goods with the United States can be found in our Trade in goods: country-by-commodity imports dataset and Trade in goods: country-by-commodity exports dataset. Our UK trade with the United States article provides a more detailed look at our trade in goods and services with the United States in 2024.

Monthly trade in goods by commodity
Goods imports
Imports from the EU increased by £0.3 billion (1.3%) in May 2025. This was mainly because of a £0.3 billion rise in chemical imports (Figure 4), driven by increased imports of medicinal and pharmaceutical products from Spain. There was also a £0.2 billion rise in imports of miscellaneous manufactures. These increases were partially offset by a £0.2 billion fall in fuel imports, driven by reduced imports of refined oil from the Netherlands.

Imports from non-EU countries increased by £0.3 billion (1.2%) in May 2025. This was mainly because of £0.1 billion rises in imports of fuels, chemicals and miscellaneous manufactures. These increases were partially offset by a £0.2 billion fall in imports of machinery and transport equipment, linked to reduced imports of ships and aircraft from the United States.

Goods exports
Exports to the EU increased by £0.4 billion (2.9%) in May 2025. This was because of £0.1 billion increases in exports of fuels, machinery and transport equipment and miscellaneous manufactures, with small increases in most other categories (Figure 5). The rise in fuel exports was because of increased exports of crude oil to Poland, while the rise in exports of machinery and transport equipment was linked to small increases across multiple countries and commodities.

Exports to non-EU countries increased by £0.2 billion (1.5%) in May 2025. This was because of a £0.3 billion rise in chemical exports, linked to increased exports of inorganic chemicals to the United States, and a £0.2 billion rise in material manufactures. These increases were partially offset by a £0.2 billion fall in fuel exports, driven by reduced exports of crude oil to Canada.

Read the full ONS report HERE