What does the UK import the most?

Cars are the UK's largest goods import. In the 12 months to July 2026 the UK imported £48.7 billion of cars, followed by mechanical power generators (£33.4 billion), refined oil (£27.7 billion), medicinal and pharmaceutical products (£27.2 billion) and telecoms equipment (£23.3 billion), according to ONS figures in DBT's UK trade in numbers.

Total imports of goods and services were £1,005.7 billion over that period, of which £654.1 billion were goods and £351.6 billion services. Travel abroad by UK residents counts as a services import: it was £85.5 billion in the four quarters to June 2026.

For imports from a particular country, use the DBT trade and investment factsheets or HMRC's trade tables, which go down to individual product codes. See how to look up trade data.

Official sources: UK trade in numbers (DBT) · ONS: UK trade in goods, country by commodity (imports)

When is the next figure out?

The ONS UK trade bulletin and HMRC's overseas trade in goods statistics are published on the same day each month, about six weeks after the reference month, at 7am alongside monthly GDP. Balance of payments comes out quarterly at the end of the quarter after the reference period. HMRC regional trade statistics are quarterly. DBT updates its factsheets after each quarterly ONS country release and its UK trade in numbers each month. HMRC's upcoming dates are on the uktradeinfo release calendar.

Every official release due in the next two weeks is on the release calendar.

Where the figures come from

• UK trade statistics (ONS, HMRC uktradeinfo and Department for Business and Trade)
  Where to find official UK trade figures: the ONS trade bulletin and balance of payments, HMRC uktradeinfo by product code, and DBT country factsheets.

Related questions

• What does the UK export the most?
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This answer says where the official figures are published and how they are defined. It gives no verdict on any claim. To report an error, send a correction request. More questions about trade, exports and brexit: all Trade, exports and Brexit questions.