UK trade statistics: ONS, HMRC and DBT sources explained
UK trade statistics are the official figures on the value of goods and services the UK exports and imports, produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), and summarised by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The ONS gives the headline trade balance and the balance of payments; HMRC's uktradeinfo site gives goods trade by country and product code; DBT turns both into factsheets for each trading partner. Fact-checkers use them for claims about trade deficits, exports to the EU, Brexit and individual partners such as the US and China.
What it publishes
- A monthly ONS UK trade bulletin with exports, imports and the trade balance for goods and services, split into EU and non-EU, in current prices and inflation-adjusted chained volume measures.
- Quarterly ONS balance of payments figures covering the current account, primary and secondary income, the financial account and the UK's international investment position.
- The annual ONS Pink Book, the most detailed annual breakdown of the UK's transactions with the rest of the world.
- HMRC overseas trade in goods statistics, compiled from customs declarations and Intrastat returns, available by partner country and by Harmonised System (HS) or SITC product code.
- HMRC regional trade statistics, showing goods exports and imports for each UK nation and English region.
- DBT trade and investment factsheets for each partner country, combining ONS trade, product and services data with foreign direct investment.
- DBT's UK trade in numbers, a monthly snapshot of total trade, top products, top services and the UK's global ranking.
- A GOV.UK list of UK trade agreements in effect, with 2025 trade values for each partner.
Key datasets
- UK trade (ONS bulletin)
Monthly and three-monthly exports, imports and balances for goods and services, EU and non-EU, with commodity detail. UK, long time series.
- Balance of payments (ONS bulletin)
Current account, trade, income flows, financial account and net international investment position, in pounds and as a share of GDP.
- UK total trade: all countries, seasonally adjusted
Quarterly exports and imports of goods and services with every partner country, on a balance of payments basis. The basis for DBT partner rankings.
- UK trade in goods, country by commodity: imports
Monthly goods imports for each partner country broken down by SITC commodity group.
- UK trade in goods, country by commodity: exports
Monthly goods exports for each partner country by SITC commodity group.
- The Pink Book
Annual compendium of UK balance of payments with detailed tables on trade in services, investment income and transfers.
- HMRC overseas trade data table (uktradeinfo)
Build tables of UK goods trade by country, month and product code down to 8-digit commodity codes.
- HMRC regional trade in goods statistics
Goods exports and imports for UK nations and English regions by partner and product group.
- DBT trade and investment factsheets
One PDF per partner country with total trade, ranking, top products and services, regional trade and investment stocks.
- UK trade in numbers (DBT)
Monthly snapshot of total UK trade, top 10 goods exports and imports, top services and global rankings, with downloadable tables.
- UK trade agreements in effect
List of trade agreements the UK can trade under with non-EU countries and blocs, with how each came into effect and 2025 trade values.
APIs and downloads
- uktradeinfo APIOpen REST API (OData-style queries) returning JSON for overseas and regional trade statistics, commodities and traders. No key or authorisation header needed.
- uktradeinfo bulk data setsMonthly bulk files of the full HMRC trade data, with technical specifications.
- ONS APIFree ONS API for datasets and time series; no key required. Trade time series can also be downloaded as CSV or XLSX from each series page.
- ONS trade balance time series (IKBJ)Single series page for the total UK trade balance, downloadable as CSV or XLSX.
- ONS UK trade publication tablesExcel tables behind the monthly UK trade bulletin.
When it publishes
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.
How to use it to check a claim
- Check whether a figure covers goods only, services only, or both: the UK has a large goods deficit and a large services surplus.
- Note whether precious metals are included. ONS headlines exclude them because gold trading makes the series volatile.
- Use chained volume measures, not current prices, when a claim is about the real amount traded over several years.
- For partner rankings, use the DBT factsheets, which rank by total trade in goods and services over four quarters, and say whether the EU is treated as a bloc.
- When using HMRC product data, record the HS or SITC code and whether the figure is on a customs basis, which can differ from ONS balance of payments figures.
- For before and after Brexit comparisons, read the ONS and DBT notes on the 2021 break in how EU goods trade is recorded.
- Quote the edition date: trade data are revised, especially the most recent months and quarters.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the trade deficit with the government budget deficit or with the current account deficit.
- Comparing cash values across years of high inflation as if they were changes in volume.
- Treating goods routed through a third country's ports as trade with that country only, which can overstate trade with countries such as the Netherlands.
- Mixing HMRC customs-basis figures with ONS balance of payments figures in the same comparison.
- Reading a single volatile month as a trend instead of using three-month or annual totals.
What is the difference between ONS and HMRC trade statistics?
HMRC counts goods physically crossing the UK border, using customs declarations, and publishes them by product code on uktradeinfo. The ONS starts from HMRC data, adjusts it to a balance of payments basis based on change of ownership, and adds trade in services. The ONS figures are used for the headline trade balance and GDP, so the two can differ for the same month and country.
Is uktradeinfo free to use?
Yes. HMRC's uktradeinfo site, its custom table tools, bulk files and API are free and need no registration or API key. Data are published under the Open Government Licence, so you can reuse them with attribution.
How often are the DBT trade factsheets updated?
DBT updates the factsheets for every partner several times a year, usually after the ONS publishes new quarterly country data. Each factsheet shows its release date and the date of the next planned update on the first page, so quote that date with any figure.
Questions answered using this source
- How do I make a Freedom of Information request?
- How big is the UK economy (GDP)?
- Where can I find UK census data?
- What is the population of the UK?
- How much food does the UK import?
- What is UK GDP per capita?
- Is the UK in recession?
- What is the UK current account deficit?
- What does the UK import the most?
- What tariffs does the UK charge on imports?
- How is UK productivity measured?
- How many trade deals does the UK have?
Links checked 2026-10-13. This page describes what the source publishes and gives no verdict on any claim.