Customs Importer and Exporter Population 2022
Published 6 April 2023
© Crown copyright 2023
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Introduction
This article reports on the number of importers and exporters (businesses) in the calendar year 2022, who were named on a Customs declaration. This covers the movement of goods between Great Britain (GB) and the European Union (EU), or United Kingdom (UK) and non-EU countries. These importers and exporters are referred to as “businesses” throughout the report and defined in the explanatory notes section.
All business counts have been rounded to the nearest thousand. Unrounded data for business populations in 2021 and 2022 can be found in the Customs Importer and Exporter Population data file.
Previous Publications:
Users should be aware that the 2022 and the 2021 Customs Importer and Exporter Publication succeed the UK Importer and Exporter Population.
The Customs Importer and Exporter Population reports only on businesses moving goods in 2021 and 2022 and draws no comparison to data on previous years. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) advises users against making comparisons to the previous UK Importer and Exporter Population as changes in the data sources would make such comparison unreliable. Comparisons can be made between the 2021 and 2022 Customs Importer and Exporter Population publications.
Summary statistics
Total number of businesses named on a Customs declaration in 2022
358,000
The total importer and exporter Customs population decreased by 5,000 (1%) when compared with the 2021 population of 363,000.
Number of businesses moving goods to or from EU countries in 2022
242,000
The population of businesses moving goods to or from EU countries increased by over 1,000 (1%) when compared with the 2021 population of 241,000
Number of businesses moving goods to or from non-EU countries in 2022
236,000
The population of businesses moving goods to or from non-EU countries decreased by 2,000 (1%) when compared with the 2021 population of 238,000
Number of businesses who imported goods in 2022
320,000
The population of businesses importing goods during 2022 decreased by 5,000 (2%) when compared with the 2021 population of 325,000
Number of businesses who exported goods in 2022
145,000
The population of businesses exporting goods during 2022 increased by 1,000 (1%) when compared with the 2021 population of 144,000
Business Counts by Partner Country
Table 1: Customs importer and exporter population for goods movements in 2021 and 2022, by partner country
| Partner Country | Business count 2021 | Business count 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| EU countries only | 125,000 | 122,000 |
| Non-EU countries only | 122,000 | 115,000 |
| With both EU & non-EU | 116,000 | 121,000 |
| Total | 363,000 | 358,000 |
Notes:
- Due to rounding to the nearest thousand, numbers may not sum to the totals provided.
- Customs declarations are required for movements of goods between GB and EU, and between UK and non-EU countries.
- Adding EU countries only with both EU & non-EU will give total businesses who moved goods to or from EU countries. Likewise, adding non-EU countries only with both EU & non-EU will give total businesses who moved goods to or from non-EU countries.
Download detailed data for Table 1 (ODS)
Source: HM Revenue & Customs Trade Statistics & Customs Analysis
Table 1 shows the change in population from 2021 to 2022, for each partner country:
-
The number of businesses moving goods to or from EU countries only in 2022 was 122,000. This decreased by 3,000 (2%) from 2021.
-
The number of businesses moving goods to or from non-EU countries only in 2022 was 115,000. This decreased by 7,000 (6%) from 2021.
-
The number of businesses moving goods to or from both EU and non-EU countries in 2022 was 121,000. This increased by 5,000 (4%) from 2021.
-
Overall, most businesses (66%) were moving goods to or from just one partner (EU countries only or non-EU countries only). The remaining businesses (34%) moved goods to or from both EU and non-EU countries.
Table 2: Customs importer and exporter population for goods movements in 2021 and 2022 by partner country and direction of movement
| Partner country | Direction of movement | Business count 2021 | Business count 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU countries only | |||
| Importing only | 89,000 | 87,000 | |
| Exporting ony | 18,000 | 18,000 | |
| Both importing and exporting | 18,000 | 17,000 | |
| Non-EU countries only | |||
| Importing only | 104,000 | 96,000 | |
| Exporting only | 14,000 | 14,000 | |
| Both importing and exporting | 5,000 | 5,000 | |
| Both EU & non-EU | |||
| Importing only | 27,000 | 30,000 | |
| Exporting only | 5,000 | 6,000 | |
| Both importing and exporting | 84,000 | 85,000 | |
| Total | 363,000 | 358,000 |
Notes:
- Due to rounding to the nearest thousand, numbers may not sum to the totals provided.
- Customs declarations are required for movements of goods between GB and EU, and between UK and non-EU countries.
- Importing refers to imports from both EU and non-EU countries, exporting refers to exports to both EU and non-EU countries.
Download detailed data for Table 2 (ODS)
Source: HM Revenue & Customs Trade Statistics & Customs Analysis
Table 2 shows the change in population from 2021 to 2022, for each partner country and direction of movement combination.
Of the 122,000 businesses moving goods to or from EU countries only:
-
The number of businesses importing but not exporting goods was 87,000. This decreased by 2,000 (2%) from 2021.
-
The number of businesses exporting but not importing goods was 18,000. This decreased by fewer than 1,000 (1%) from 2021.
-
The number of businesses both importing and exporting goods was 17,000. This decreased by 1,000 (5%) from 2021.
Of the 115,000 businesses moving goods to or from non-EU countries only:
-
The number of businesses importing but not exporting goods was 96,000. This decreased by fewer than 8,000 (7%) from 2021.
-
The number of businesses exporting but not importing goods was 14,000. This increased by fewer than 1,000 (2%) from 2021.
-
The number of businesses both importing and exporting goods was 5,000. This increased by fewer than 1,000 (8%) from 2021.
Of the 121,000 businesses moving goods to or from both EU and non-EU countries:
-
The number of businesses importing but not exporting goods was 30,000. This increased by 3,000 (12%) from 2021.
-
The number of businesses exporting but not importing goods was 6,000. This increased by fewer than 1,000 (5%) from 2021.
-
The number of businesses both importing and exporting goods was 85,000. This increased by 1,000 (1%) from 2021.
Business Counts by Direction of Movement
Table 3: Customs importer and exporter population for trade in goods, 2021 and 2022 by direction of movement
| Direction of movement | Business count 2021 | Business count 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Importing only | 219,000 | 213,000 |
| Exporting only | 37,000 | 38,000 |
| Both importing and exporting | 106,000 | 107,000 |
| Total | 363,000 | 358,000 |
Notes:
- Due to rounding to the nearest thousand, numbers may not sum to the totals provided.
- Customs declarations are required for movements of goods between GB and EU, and between UK and non-EU countries.
- Adding importing only with both importing and exporting, will give total businesses who imported goods. Likewise, adding exporting only with both importing and exporting will give total businesses who exported goods.
Download detailed data for Table 3 (ODS)
Source: HM Revenue & Customs Trade Statistics & Customs Analysis
Table 3 shows the change in population from 2021 to 2022, for each direction of movement:
-
The number of businesses importing but not exporting goods in 2022 was 213,000. This decreased by 6,000 (3%) from 2021.
-
The number of businesses exporting but not importing goods in 2022 was 38,000. This increased by fewer than 1,000 (1%) from 2021.
-
The number of businesses both importing and exporting goods in 2022 was 107,000. This increased by 1,000 (1%) from 2021.
-
Overall, most businesses (70%) were moving goods in just one direction. The remaining businesses (30%) both imported and exported goods.
Table 4: Customs importer and exporter population for goods movements in 2021 and 2022 by direction of movement and partner country
| Direction of movement | Partner country | Business count 2021 | Business count 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Importing only | |||
| EU countries only | 89,000 | 87,000 | |
| Non-EU countries only | 104,000 | 96,000 | |
| Both EU & non-EU | 27,000 | 30,000 | |
| Exporting only | |||
| EU countries only | 18,000 | 18,000 | |
| Non-EU countries only | 14,000 | 14,000 | |
| Both EU & non-EU | 5,000 | 6,000 | |
| Both Importing and Exporting | |||
| EU countries only | 18,000 | 17,000 | |
| Non-EU countries only | 5,000 | 5,000 | |
| Both EU & non-EU | 84,000 | 85,000 | |
| Total | 363,000 | 358,000 |
Notes:
- Due to values rounded to nearest thousands, numbers may not sum to the totals provided.
- Customs declarations are required for movements of goods between GB and EU, and between UK and non-EU countries.
- Importing refers to imports from both EU and non-EU countries, exporting refers to exports to both EU and non-EU countries.
Download detailed data for Table 4 (ODS)
Source: HM Revenue & Customs Trade Statistics & Customs Analysis
Table 4 shows the change in population from 2021 to 2022, for each direction of movement and trade partner combination.
Of the 213,000 businesses only importing but not exporting goods:
-
The number of businesses importing goods from EU countries only was 87,000. This decreased by 2,000 (2%) from 2021.
-
The number of businesses importing goods from non-EU countries only was 96,000. This decreased by fewer than 8,000 (7%) from 2021.
-
The number of businesses importing goods from both EU and non-EU countries was 30,000. This increased by 3,000 (12%) from 2021.
Of the 38,000 businesses only exporting but not importing any goods:
-
The number of businesses exporting goods from EU countries only was 18,000. This decreased by fewer than 1,000 (1%) from 2021.
-
The number of businesses exporting goods from non-EU countries only was 14,000. This increased by fewer than 1,000 (2%) from 2021.
-
The number of businesses exporting goods from both EU and non-EU countries was 6,000. This increased by fewer than 1,000 (5%) from 2021.
Of the 107,000 businesses both importing and exporting goods:
-
The number of businesses both importing from and exporting to EU countries only was 17,000. This decreased by 1,000 (5%) from 2021.
-
The number of businesses both importing and exporting goods to non-EU countries only was 5,000. This increased by fewer than 1,000 (8%) from 2021.
-
The number of businesses both importing and exporting goods to and from both EU and non-EU countries was 85,000. This increased by 1,000 (1%) from 2021.