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.
- Medicinal, dental & pharmaceutical preparations …US$8.2 billion (15.3% of Britain to U.S. exports, up 41.8% from 2005)
- New & used passenger cars … $5 billion (9.3%, down 12.5%)
- Other petroleum products … $3.6 billion (6.8%, up 22.7%)
- Crude oil … $2.9 billion (5.5%, down 37.2%)
- Civilian aircraft engines … $2.3 billion (4.4%, up 18%)
- Goods returned to U.S. then reimported … $2.1 billion (4%, down 0.9%)
- Collectibles (e.g. artwork, antiques, stamps) … $1.6 billion (2.9%, up 13.2%)
- Materials handling equipment … $1.24 billion (2.3%, up 36.1%)
- Precious metals other than gold … $1.237 billion (2.3%, up 36.1%)
- 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.
- Non-monetary gold … US$37.3 million (up 4,073% from 2005)
- Civilian aircraft (complete) … $55.9 million (up 739%)
- Tin … $15.3 million (up 353%)
- Newsprint … $12.4 million (up 193%)
- 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.
- Pharmaceutical preparations … US$3.8 billion (8.3% of British imports from U.S., up 186.7% from 2005)
- Non-monetary gold … $2.9 billion (6.4%, up 186.7%)
- Civilian aircraft engines … $2.4 billion (5.3%, up 6.4%)
- Computer accessories … $2 billion (4.4%, down 4.3%)
- Civilian aircraft parts … $1.7 billion (3.8%, up 11.6%)
- Precious metals other than gold … $1.5 billion (3.3%, up 175.3%)
- Collectibles (e.g. artwork, antiques, stamps) … $1.4 billion (3.1%, up 12.2%)
- Telecommunications equipment … $1.4 billion (3%, up 6.6%)
- Minimum value shipments … $1.3 billion (2.8%, up 22.3%)
- 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.
- Fuel oil … US$346 million (up 634.7% from 2005)
- Non-monetary gold … $2.9 billion (up 186.7%)
- Precious metals other than gold … $1.5 billion (up 173.5%)
- Military aircraft (complete) … $37.4 million (up 113.4%)
- Nuclear fuel materials … $456.7 million (up 110%)
Sources for this Article
For a list of source materials complete with links to the most current information on country-specific GDP, trade partners, imports and exports, visit the Richest Research Sources panel at the top right of the World’s Richest Countries website. That site is a reference toolkit developed specifically for international trade researchers.
