Top UK Exports & Imports

Medicinal preparations & passenger cars are leading UK exports to the U.S. while fuel oil & precious metals are the fastest-growing imports into Britain from America.

With a population of some 61 million, the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland (also referred to as Britain) exported US$53.4 billion worth of merchandise to the United States in 2006, up 4.7% from 2005 and up 31.2% in 4 years.

British imports from the U.S. rose 17.6% to $45.4 billion in 2006, up 36.7% since 2002.

In terms of the merchandise flow between the two countries, America’s trade deficit with Britain was $8 billion in 2006, up 6.7% from 2002. The U.S. trade deficit with the U.K. actually decreased 54.7% in 2006 – a reversal of the 21.1% deficit increase in 2005 from the year earlier.

British Exports to U.S.

Of the $53.4 billion in American imports from Britain in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values.

1. Medicinal, dental & pharmaceutical preparations …US$8.2 billion (15.3% of Britain to U.S. exports, up 41.8% from 2005)
2. New & used passenger cars … $5 billion (9.3%, down 12.5%)
3. Other petroleum products … $3.6 billion (6.8%, up 22.7%)
4. Crude oil … $2.9 billion (5.5%, down 37.2%)
5. Civilian aircraft engines … $2.3 billion (4.4%, up 18%)
6. Goods returned to U.S. then reimported … $2.1 billion (4%, down 0.9%)
7. Collectibles (e.g. artwork, antiques, stamps) … $1.6 billion (2.9%, up 13.2%)
8. Materials handling equipment … $1.24 billion (2.3%, up 36.1%)
9. Precious metals other than gold … $1.237 billion (2.3%, up 36.1%)
10. Alcoholic beverages other than wine … $1.2 billion (2.2%, up 11.8%)

Fastest-Growing British Exports to U.S.

Below are American imports from Britain in 2006 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2005.

1. Non-monetary gold … US$37.3 million (up 4,073% from 2005)
2. Civilian aircraft (complete) … $55.9 million (up 739%)
3. Tin … $15.3 million (up 353%)
4. Newsprint … $12.4 million (up 193%)
5. Miscellaneous (e.g. hair, waste materials) … $38.7 million (up 130%)

British Imports from U.S.

Of the $45.4 billion in American exports to the U.K. in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values.

1. Pharmaceutical preparations … US$3.8 billion (8.3% of British imports from U.S., up 186.7% from 2005)
2. Non-monetary gold … $2.9 billion (6.4%, up 186.7%)
3. Civilian aircraft engines … $2.4 billion (5.3%, up 6.4%)
4. Computer accessories … $2 billion (4.4%, down 4.3%)
5. Civilian aircraft parts … $1.7 billion (3.8%, up 11.6%)
6. Precious metals other than gold … $1.5 billion (3.3%, up 175.3%)
7. Collectibles (e.g. artwork, antiques, stamps) … $1.4 billion (3.1%, up 12.2%)
8. Telecommunications equipment … $1.4 billion (3%, up 6.6%)
9. Minimum value shipments … $1.3 billion (2.8%, up 22.3%)
10. Medicinal equipment … $1.2 billion (2.6%, up 11.1%)

Fastest-Growing British Imports from U.S.

Below are American exports to Britain in 2006 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2005.

1. Fuel oil … US$346 million (up 634.7% from 2005)
2. Non-monetary gold … $2.9 billion (up 186.7%)
3. Precious metals other than gold … $1.5 billion (up 173.5%)
4. Military aircraft (complete) … $37.4 million (up 113.4%)
5. Nuclear fuel materials … $456.7 million (up 110%)

Sources for this Article

This article presents independent calculations and insights based on data drawn from the CIA World Factbook and the U.S. Census Bureau – Foreign Trade Statistics.

Hope Cove, Devon, England

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