UK trade with China: 2021

A closer look at the goods and services the UK trades with China.

This is the latest release.

Correction

7 June 2022 11:00

We have corrected an error in Figure 2 and associated data download. Due to an error in the data visualisation process, some wrong data was entered into the incorrect headings under 'value' and 'percentage'. The figure and data download have now been updated.

Release date:
1 June 2022

Next release:
To be announced

Table of contents

1. Main points
2. UK trade in goods with China
3. UK trade in services with China
4. UK trade in goods with China interactive content
5. UK trade data
6. Glossary
7. Data sources and quality
8. Future developments
9. Related links

1. Main points

• In 2021, China was the UK's largest import partner and sixth-largest export partner for goods.
• The UK imported £63.6 billion of goods from China in 2021 (13.3% of all goods imports to the UK) and exported £18.8 billion of goods (5.8% of all goods exports from the UK).
• The main goods import from China in 2021 was machinery and transport equipment (£27.5 billion), primarily office machinery and telecoms and sound equipment; machinery and transport equipment was also the main goods export (£7.7 billion).
• In 2021, the UK imported £2.5 billion of services from China (1.4% of all services imports) and exported £8.2 billion of services (2.7% of all services exports).
• The main services import from China was other business services (£1.1 billion), while the main services export was travel (£2.8 billion), specifically personal travel.
• China is one of the UK's largest trading partners, accounting for £93.0 billion (7.3%) of the UK's total trade in 2021.
• The UK had a £39.1 billion trade deficit with China in 2021, which means we imported more than we exported; we had a £44.8 billion trade deficit in goods which was offset by a £5.7 billion surplus in services.

2. UK trade in goods with China

In 2021, the UK imported £63.6 billion of goods from China. This accounted for 13.3% of all goods imports, making China our largest importing partner. There were £18.8 billion of goods exports to China (5.8% of all goods exports), making China our sixth-largest exporting partner.

The UK imported £27.5 billion of machinery and transport equipment from China in 2021 (Figure 1), accounting for 17.5% of all imports of this commodity. The imports of machinery and transport equipment were primarily office machinery which includes items such as laptops and computers, and telecoms and sound equipment which includes mobile phones and smartphones (Table 1).

The UK imported £17.9 billion of miscellaneous manufactures from China in 2021, accounting for 26.2% of all imports of this commodity. This consisted of consumer manufactures (£5.5 billion), which includes video games consoles, exercise equipment and toys; while clothing accounted for £3.5 billion of the miscellaneous manufactures imports.

The main exports from the UK to China in 2021 were machinery and transport equipment (£7.7 billion) and fuels (£4.0 billion). Cars accounted for £3.6 billion of the machinery and transport equipment exports; 15.3% of the UK's total exports of cars in 2021. The fuel exports were almost entirely crude oil (£3.9 billion), making up 22.1% of all UK exports of crude oil in 2021.

Figure 1: The main commodity imported from and exported to China in 2021 was machinery and transport equipment

Trade in goods with China by commodity type, imports and exports

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Source: Office for National Statistics - UK trade statistics, current prices, non-seasonally adjusted

Download this table Table 1: Office machinery was the most imported commodity from China in 2021

3. UK trade in services with China

In 2021, the UK imported £2.5 billion of services from China (1.4% of all services imports), making China our 17th-largest importing partner. Over the same period there were £8.2 billion of services exports to China (2.7% of all services exports), making China our seventh-largest exporting partner.

The main service type imported from China in 2021 was other business services (Figure 2), with imports of £1.1 billion, while financial services (£0.4 billion) were the next largest services import. Specifically, this was explicitly charged and other financial services (Table 2). This service type includes fund managers and monetary financial institutions and refers to explicit fees and commissions that do not require special calculation, for example, early and late repayment fees and account charges.

Travel (£2.8 billion) was the largest services export to China in 2021, accounting for 17.1% of all UK imports of this service type. This was almost entirely personal travel. Transportation and other business services each accounted for £1.4 billion of services exports from China in 2021. The transportation exports were primarily sea transportation (£1.0 billion), while other business services exports mainly consisted of architectural, engineering and scientific services as well as those other business services not included in other categories.

Figure 2: Travel was the primary services export to China in 2021

Trade in services with China by service type, imports and exports

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Source: Office for National Statistics - UK trade statistics, current prices, non-seasonally adjusted

Download this table Table 2: Personal was the main service type exported to China in 2021

4. UK trade in goods with China interactive content

Use our interactive map to get a better understanding of what goods the UK traded with China in 2021. You can explore the full data, which break down UK trade in goods with 234 countries by 125 commodities, using our interactive tools. Select a country by hovering over it or using the drop-down menu.

You can also explore the 2021 trade in goods data by commodity, such as office machinery imports from and crude oil exports to China.

Select a commodity from the drop-down menu or click through the levels to explore the data.