United Kingdom world map

Trade in United Kingdom

United Kingdom was the world’s 14th largest exporter of goods and 2nd largest exporter of commercial services in 2022. Export values were $532.98 billion and $494.44 billion USD respectively. United Kingdom’s top export category was Manufactures, followed by Machinery and transport equipment, and Fuels and mining products. In 2022, United Kingdom’s main export destination markets for goods and services trade were to United States, Germany and Ireland, with trade representing 69.52 per cent of GDP. In terms of imports, United Kingdom is the world’s 5th largest importer of goods and 5th largest importer of commercial services. Import values were $823.55 billion and $317.07 billion USD respectively in 2022. United Kingdom’s top import category was Manufactures, followed by Machinery and transport equipment and Fuels and mining products. Leading import partners were China, Germany and United States. United Kingdom is part of 38 different Regional Trade Agreements, including EU – United Kingdom and United Kingdom – Albania.
Regional Trade Agreements Database

General Information

This section includes general information on the economy, legal system, official languages and links to additional demographic information.

Official Name

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Abbreviation

GB

Capital

London

WTO Membership Date

1 January 1995

Legal System

common law system; has nonbinding judicial review of Acts of Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998

Language

English, Scots, Welsh, Irish

Number of Time Zone(s)

9

Additional Information

Financial Information

This section includes financial information such as the currency, exchange rate lookup and local banks issuing trade finance.

Currency

Sterling

Exchange Rate

Google Finance Currencies

GTFP Confirming Banks

Through the IFC's Global Trade Finance Program (GTFP) bank network, local financial institutions can establish working partnerships with a vast number of major international banks in the Program that can broaden access to finance and reduce cash collateral requirements. This extends and complements the capacity of banks to deliver trade finance by providing risk mitigation on a per-transaction basis in challenging markets where trade lines may be limited.
  • Abbey National Treasury 2 - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: ANTSGB2LDOC

  • ABC International Bank PLC - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: ABCEGB2L

  • ABN AMRO Bank NV London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: ABNAGB2L

  • Agricultural Bank of China (UK) Limited - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: ABOCGB2L

  • Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: ANZBGB2LXXX

  • Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SPA London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: PASCGB2L

  • Banco do Brasil United Kingdom - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: BRASGB2L

  • Banco Santander, S.A. - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: BSCHGB2LXXX

  • Bank of America NA UK - Kent, United Kingdom - SWIFT: BOFAGB22

  • Bank of Beirut UK Ltd - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: BRBAGB2L

  • Bank of China Birmingham - Birmingham, United Kingdom - SWIFT: BKCHGB2L

  • Bank of China Glasgow - Glasgow, United Kingdom - SWIFT: BKCHGB2L

  • Bank of China London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: BKCHGB2L

  • Bank of China Manchester - Manchester, United Kingdom - SWIFT: BKCHGB2L

  • Bank of China West End - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: BKCHGB2L

  • Bank of Montreal - London Branch, United Kingdom - SWIFT: BOFMGB2X

  • Barclays Bank PLC - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: BARCGB22

  • BMCE Bank International (Prev.MediCapital Bank PLC) - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: MEDTGB2L

  • BNP Paribas London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: BNPAGB22

  • British Arab Commercial Bank Limited - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: BACMGB2L

  • Byblos Bank Europe SA London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: BYBBGB2L

  • China Construction Bank London Limited - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: PCBCGB2L

  • Citibank International LTD - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: CITIGB2L

  • Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A.,London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: RABOGB2LLCB

  • Credit Agricole CIB United Kingdom - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: CRLYGB2L

  • Crown Agents Bank Ltd - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: CRASGB2L

  • DBS Bank Ltd London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: DBSSGB2L

  • Deutsche Bank AG London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: DEUTGB2L

  • Diamond Bank UK PLC - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: DBUKGB2L

  • EFG Eurobank Ergasias SA London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: EFGBGB33

  • Emirates NBD London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: EBILGB2l

  • Europe Arab Bank - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: ARABGB2L

  • FBN Bank UK Limited - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: FBNIGB2L

  • FCMB Bank (UK) Limited - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: FCMBGB2L

  • Ghana International Bank PLC - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: GHIBGB2L

  • Guaranty Trust Bank UK Limited - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: GTBIGB2L

  • Habib Bank AG Zurich UK - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: HBZUGB2L

  • Habib Bank Limited Birmingham - Birmingham, United Kingdom - SWIFT: HABBGB2L

  • Habib Bank Limited Glasgow - Glasgow, United Kingdom - SWIFT: HABBGB2L

  • Habib Bank Limited Knightsbridge - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: HABBGB2L

  • Habib Bank Limited London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: HABBGB2L

  • Habib Bank Limited Manchester - Manchester, United Kingdom - SWIFT: HABBGB2L

  • HSBC Bank PLC - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: MIDLGB22

  • ICBC Standard Bank PLC (Previously Standard Bank PLC)- London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: SBLLGB2L

  • ICICI Bank UK PLC - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: ICICGB2L

  • Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: ICBKGB2L

  • Intesa Sanpaolo London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: BCITGB2L

  • Korea Exchange Bank London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: KOEXGB2L

  • Lloyds Bank PLC - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: LOYDGB2L

  • London Forfaiting Company Ltd - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: FIMBMTM3

  • London Forfaiting Company Ltd - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: FIMBMTM3

  • MashreqBank PSC London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: MSHQGB2L

  • Maybank London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: MBBEGB2L

  • Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: MHCBGB2L

  • National Bank of Abu Dhabi - United Kingdom - SWIFT: NBADGB2L

  • National Bank of Egypt - London - SWIFT: NBEGGB2L

  • National Bank of Kuwait International (NBKI) PLC - London , United Kingdom - SWIFT: NBOKGB2L

  • Nedbank Limited London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: NEDSGB2L

  • Northern Bank Limited - Belfast, United Kingdom - SWIFT: NORBGB2B

  • PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: BNINGB2L

  • Qatar National Bank London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: QNBAGB2L

  • Santander UK PLC - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: ALEIGB22DOC

  • Standard Chartered Bank - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: SCBLGB2L

  • State Bank of India, London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: SBINGB2L

  • Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe Limited - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: SMBCGB2L

  • Svenska Handelsbanken United Kingdom - Manchester, United Kingdom - SWIFT: HANDGB22

  • The Access Bank UK Limited - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: ABNGGB2L

  • The Bank of Nova Scotia London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: NOSCGB22

  • The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: BOTKGB2L

  • The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: RBOSGB2L

  • UniCredit Bank AG London - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: HYVEGB2L

  • Zenith Bank UK Limited - London, United Kingdom - SWIFT: ZEIBGB2L

Contact Information

This section includes contact information for business support organizations and national resources.

Business Support Organizations

Industrial Property Offices

  • Intellectual Property Office

SPS Enquiry Points

Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) enquiry points are government agencies designated to answer questions about trade requirements.
  • UK WTO SPS National Notification Authority and Enquiry Point
    WTO Policy Team
    EU and International Trade Directorate
    Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
    Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs

    Area 3E
    17 Smith Square
    London

    [email protected]

TBT Enquiry Points

Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) enquiry points are government agencies designated to answer questions about trade requirements.
  • Policy Directorate, Trade Policy Group
    Department for International Trade
    Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-trade

    Old Admiralty Building,
    London

    [email protected]

Additional Information

ePing alert

Links to other helpful resources

This section includes additional links to trade-related resources.

National Tariff Finder

https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff

Trade Information Portal

https://www.uktradeinfo.com/

Last Reviewed: June, 2024

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