UK-California trade and investment highlights
Updated 25 June 2021
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The US and UK have a strong trade relationship worth more than $260 billion a year, and a total of $1 trillion invested in each other’s economies. This relationship plays a pivotal role in California’s economy and supports thousands of jobs in the state.
California jobs supported by UK companies
126,400 Californians employed by UK subsidiaries in 2018
111,610 jobs are supported by exports from California to the UK worth $19.2 billion in 2019.
Value of exports to the UK from California
The UK was the 5th largest export market for California in 2019
Total value of California goods exports to the UK $4.6 billion
Total value of California services exports to the UK $14.6 billion
Top exports from California to the UK 2019
| Top California goods exports to the UK | US$ |
|---|---|
| Aerospace products and parts | $614 million |
| Communications equipment | $354 million |
| Computer equipment | $342 million |
| Miscellaneous manufactured commodities | $286 million |
| Navigational and measuring instruments | $281 million |
| Top California services exports to the UK | US$ |
|---|---|
| Audio/visual services | $3.2 billion |
| Personal travel and tourism | $1.7 billion |
| Business management and consulting services | $1.6 billion |
| Database and other info services | $744 million |
| Financial management and advisory services | $717 million |
Trends in exports from California to the UK 2010 to 2019
| Year | Goods exports to the UK (in $) | Services exports to the UK (in $) |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 3,979,510,679 | 9,267,374,661 |
| 2011 | 4,008,820,924 | 9,770,182,485 |
| 2012 | 4,048,333,094 | 10,924,140,611 |
| 2013 | 4,298,730,946 | 11,106,478,674 |
| 2014 | 4,460,646,095 | 12,113,208,670 |
| 2015 | 4,561,608,560 | 12,822,346,659 |
| 2016 | 4,892,196,251 | 12,993,214,159 |
| 2017 | 4,403,401,564 | 13,854,097,575 |
| 2018 | 4,832,865,005 | 14,854,531,385 |
| 2019 | 4,639,557,166 | 14,571,422,576 |
Find out more about investing in, and trading with the UK.
Sources
Goods, jobs and services estimates prepared by The Trade Partnership and derived from U.S. government and private industry data.
Companies trading with the UK from US Census, “A Profile of U.S. Importing and Exporting Companies, 2017-2018.”
Estimate of employment by UK subsidiaries from Bureau of Economic Analysis, Foreign Direct Investment in the United States database.