Official Statistics

DBT national survey of registered businesses’ exporting behaviours, attitudes and needs 2024 (executive summary)

Published 14 August 2025

For the full report, read the DBT national survey of registered businesses’ exporting behaviours, attitudes and needs 2024 in PDF format.

About the National Survey of Registered Businesses (NSRB)

The National Survey of Registered Businesses’ exporting behaviours, attitudes and needs (NSRB) is commissioned by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). It monitors exporting behaviours, plans, capabilities, and attitudes of businesses across the UK. It is also used as a tool for evaluating the performance of DBT communication campaigns.

In total, 9 annual waves of the NSRB have been completed, commencing in 2015. This report is focused on the ninth and most recent wave of data, collected across 2024. In 2024, a total of 2,969 responses were collected from businesses throughout the year, split into 4 quarters, across 3 collection periods. Data for quarter 1 was collected between 8 March and 7 May. Data for quarter 2 was collected between 10 July and 28 August. Data for quarter 3 and quarter 4 was collected across an extended collection period between 26 September 2024 and 9 January 2025. This report focuses on findings from across the year, though some notable changes from quarter-to-quarter are highlighted where appropriate. Throughout the report, figures have been rounded to the nearest whole number and as such, breakdowns may not always sum to the expected total.

The primary focus of the NSRB is on businesses with an annual turnover of £500,000 or more. This is on the basis that these larger businesses can potentially generate high value exports at larger scale. Throughout most of this report, ‘UK businesses’ is referring only to those with a turnover of £500,000 or higher. This is not true of chapter 12, which reports on findings from the ‘total business population’. The ‘total business population’ refers to the whole respondent population, incorporating businesses with a turnover of less than £500,000.

Overall context and main findings (£500,000+ turnover businesses)

Throughout 2024, businesses continued to face challenges. However, while pre-existing concerns around COVID-19, inflation and economic uncertainty, rising energy prices, and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East were still prominent, these were decreased compared to 2023, indicating a stabilisation of the business environment.

In July 2024 the UK held a general election, which led to a change in government. Data from quarter 1 (March to May) was collected under the previous government – all other data was collected under the Labour government elected on the 4 July 2024.

Exporting Behaviour

The proportion of businesses currently exporting has remained stable in 2024, see Figure 4.2. However, since 2021 there has been a downward trend in the proportion of businesses who have ever exported (45% in 2021 to 43% in 2022, 39% in 2023 and 38% in 2024), although the 2024 figure is not significantly different from levels seen between 2015 and 2020 (40% to 42%). Overall, reported exporting volumes and businesses’ expectations for UK export growth were in line with 2023 figures. Nine in 10 (90%) businesses who had ever exported said they had exported to one of the ‘core markets’,^{[footnote 1]} a decrease from 94% in 2023. Most businesses (85%) said they had exported to the EU, consistent with 2023.

Business Concerns

General concerns around COVID-19 decreased further in 2024 compared with 2023. Concerns about economic or inflationary pressure, costs of shipping, energy prices and industrial action were also all reduced compared with 2023. Businesses were also more optimistic about the demand for UK products and services around the world. However, concerns relating to the UK’s exit from the EU continued to be prominent and were unchanged compared with 2023.

Exporting Barriers

In general, the majority of business capability measurements explored were consistent with 2023 figures. The exceptions were in reported staff capacity and staff skills to begin or continue exporting, both of which improved since 2023. Thinking about respondents’ ability to export to core markets, issues relating to time and costs were seen as the greatest barriers, though both had decreased since 2022 when these questions were last asked.

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)

Findings relating to FTAs were consistent with 2023. Three quarters (75%) of businesses had heard of FTAs, although less than 1 in 5 (18%) reported any knowledge about them. Among businesses who have or could export (‘Sustain’, ‘Reassure’ and ‘Promote’ segments), 79% had heard of FTAs, with almost 1 in 4 (23%) knowing anything about them. Despite this, over 2 in 5 (45%) felt that FTAs would benefit their business (61% among current or previous exporters), and almost half (49%) felt FTAs would benefit their sector or industry (61% among current or previous exporters). Businesses reported low confidence in how to trade through an FTA, and a lack of information or support to access the benefits of FTAs, indicating a need for further guidance.

Information Sources and Awareness

The proportions of businesses that reported high levels of knowledge on how to export (20%), where to go for information (26%) or help and support about exporting (25%) were stable in 2024. The proportion of businesses who had ever sought advice or support about exporting (43%) also remained stable. GOV.UK pages remained the main source of government support on exporting and trade, both in awareness (53%) and use (32%), though awareness and use of these pages was decreased compared with 2023 (awareness: 68%, use 45%). Most services were still not familiar to or used by the majority of businesses.

Campaign Recognition

Around 1 in 10 businesses (11%) were able to recall the DBT ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ campaign, consistent with 2023 (13%). Just over one-quarter of businesses who were able to view the MIUK campaign ads during the interview felt they were relevant to their business (27%), an increase from 20% in 2023. The campaign was largely seen to be clear (78%) and trusted (69%) sources of information. However, agreement that the ads told businesses something new (37%) decreased since 2023 (51%). Fewer recognised the UK Export Academy campaign (4%).

Key findings by theme – (£500,000+ turnover businesses)

General exporting behaviours

The NSRB allocates businesses into 4 separate segments as described below (see also section 3.5 for segment definitions) to reflect their exporting behaviour. The proportion of businesses falling into each of these segments has remained relatively stable across all 9 waves of the NSRB:

• just under a third (32%) of businesses had exported goods and/or services in the past 12 months and fell into the ‘Sustain’ segment
• additionally, 6% of businesses were either lapsed or intermittent exporters, meaning they had not exported in the last 12 months but had done so previously – these businesses made up the ‘Reassure’ segment
• a third segment, accounting for 17% of businesses, were those that had never exported before but believed that they could – these businesses reported having a product or service that they self-identified as being suitable, or could be developed to be suitable, for export, and formed the ‘Promote’ segment
• the final segment was made up of businesses that have never exported and did not see their goods or services as being suitable for export – this group is referred to as the ‘Challenge’ segment and accounted for 44% of all businesses
• a remaining 1% of businesses fell outside of these segment definitions, as they were unsure of their exporting potential or history

Figure 1.1: Percentage of respondents in each exporting segment from 2015 - 2024

Segment	2015	2016	2017	2018	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Sustain	33%	33%	35%	33%	34%	35%	34%	31%	32%
Reassure	8%	9%	7%	7%	6%	10%	9%	8%	6%
Promote	11%	12%	12%	13%	15%	15%	15%	18%	17%
Challenge	43%	41%	39%	38%	44%	38%	42%	42%	44%
Not specified	5%	5%	7%	8%	1%	1%	1%	1%	1%
Total (Base)	1,160	1,139	2,535	2,448	2,557	2,485	2,405	2,181	2,182

In 2024, 38% of respondents had exported before and 61% had never exported. This represents a continued downward trend since 2021 (45% in 2021, 43% in 2022, 39% in 2023 and 38% in 2024). The overall trend arises through incremental changes across the ‘Sustain’ and ‘Reassure’ segments. However, the 2024 figure is not significantly different to levels observed between 2015 and 2020 (between 40% and 42%). The proportion of businesses in the ‘Promote’ segment has been trending up over the 8 waves of the NSRB though was stable in 2024, while the proportion of ‘Challenge’ businesses has fluctuated across years but remained stable in the past 12 months.^{[footnote 2]}

Exporting behaviour in Northern Ireland (NI) remained high in comparison to the rest of the UK. However, a large proportion of NI businesses that exported did so only to the Republic of Ireland. In 2024, 29% of NI businesses reported that they had exported in the previous 12 months, but only to the Republic of Ireland. A further 21% said they exported both to the Republic of Ireland and overseas in the previous 12 months. Finally, 3% said they exported to overseas destinations only. These figures were in line with previous years.

The proportion of exporting businesses reporting either an increase or a reduction in their exports of goods and services in 2024 remained consistent with 2023. Among exporters of goods, 2 in 10 (21%) stated that their exports of goods had increased in the past 12 months. Around a third (34%) stated that they had decreased. For service exporters, the picture was slightly more favourable, with 28% stating that their exports had increased in the past year, whilst 1 in 4 (25%) stated that exports had decreased.

Just under 8 in 10 exporters (78%) said that they were ‘passive’ in their exporting behaviour, an increase from 71% in 2023. This means that they responded to orders from other countries but did not actively target these customers. Additionally, almost 1 in 5 exporters (19%) said they did actively target customers abroad, a decrease from 27% in 2023. One in 5 potential or lapsed exporters (21%) were planning to start or resume exporting at some point in the future. This is equivalent to 5% of the whole £500,000+ business sample.

Barriers to exporting

Across almost all aspects of capabilities and capacity in relation to exporting that had been measured in previous years, findings were consistent with 2023. Just over 2 in 3 businesses that have products suitable for export felt they had the financial resources (71%), adequate supply chains (70%) and the capability to assess the cost of exporting (69%). Two areas of improvement were seen in staff skills (69%) and staff capacity (63%), which increased from 61% and 52%, respectively since 2023. Businesses having sufficient managerial time (61%), access to support and advisory services (60%), capability to develop an export business plan (59%), and capability to assess international competition for products or services (51%) were all unchanged since 2023. One new area of capability was introduced in 2024, the capability to research and understand FTAs (65%).

Businesses who had exported or whose products could be developed for export were asked a set of questions on barriers to exporting, last asked in 2022.^{[footnote 3]} Time and cost were seen as the greatest barriers to exporting to core markets (USA, Australia, the EU, India and the Gulf States). In relation to exporting more generally, time (39%), cost (32%) and lack of knowledge (32%) were the greatest barriers, though the proportion of reporting time and cost as a strong barrier decreased from 2022 (47% and 41% respectively).

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)^{[footnote 4]}

Across all businesses with a turnover of £500,000 or more, 75% had heard of FTAs, however, less than 1 in 5 (18%) reported knowing anything about them. Among only businesses who have or could export (‘Sustain’, ‘Reassure’ and ‘Promote’ segments), 79% had heard of FTAs, with almost 1 in 4 (23%) knowing anything about them. Current or previous exporters (‘Sustain’ 27% and ‘Reassure’ 28%) were more likely to report knowledge of FTAs compared with non-exporters (‘Promote’ 15%, and ‘Challenge’ 11%).

Despite overall low knowledge levels, 45% of all respondents agreed that FTAs would benefit their business, which was higher among current and previous exporters (61%). However, just 1 in 4 (26%) felt that they are confident in knowing how to trade through an FTA, and fewer (17%) agreed that the government is providing information and support to help businesses access the benefits of FTAs. For most businesses, GOV.UK was seen as the primary source they would use to find information about FTAs (80%). More than half would utilise other business or professional contacts (58%), the UK government (including DBT, 58%) or trade bodies and business groups (50%), all consistent with 2023.

Over half (54%) of businesses who have ever exported reported that their goods or services were eligible for any FTA benefits, with the most commonly reported benefit being reduced customs duties (31%). Just over 2 in 5 of those aware of any benefit (43%) said they benefited always or most of the time, 33% some of the time, and 19% said they never or almost never benefit, again all consistent with 2023.

Importers were more likely to have heard of FTAs (82%) than non-importers (71%). Importers were also more likely to agree that FTAs will benefit their business (59% compared with 33% of non-importers), that they feel confident they would know how to trade through an FTA (36% compared with 17% of non-importers) and that the government is providing information and support to help businesses access the benefits of FTAs (21% compared with 14% of non-importers).

Supply chains

In 2024, all businesses were asked about their experience of supply chains. Just over half (53%) had any experience of supply chain disruptions, a decrease from 62% in 2023. Among these, 19% were currently experiencing supply chain disruptions, down from 31% in 2023, and 34% said these had been resolved. It is important to note that the fieldwork period ended in January 2025, prior to the instigation of widespread US tariffs in spring 2025.

Among all those who had experienced supply chain disruptions in the last 3 years, the most commonly cited causes for supply chain disruptions were the EU Exit (63%), COVID-19 (63%) and general economic or inflationary pressure (50%). Those currently experiencing supply chain disruptions related to COVID-19 continued to decrease in 2024 (43%, down from 59% in 2023). Other causes of current supply chain disruptions included the cost of shipping (50%), war or conflict (46%), difficulty sourcing suitable or affordable parts (45%), and rising energy prices (44%).

Export knowledge and support

One fifth of businesses who do or could export felt that they had a high level of knowledge of how to export (20%), while a greater proportion felt they had low knowledge (31%), unchanged from 18% and 28% in 2023, respectively.

Just over 1 in 5 reported a low level of knowledge about where to go for information (22%) or help and support with exporting (23%), up from 14% and 15% respectively in 2023. However, the proportions reporting high levels of knowledge about where to go for information (26%) or help and support (25%) were unchanged.

The proportion of businesses that do or could export who sought advice and support remained stable at 43% in 2024, compared with 40% in 2023.

Around 7 in 10 businesses that do or could export reported being aware of at least one UK government trade support service (72%), a decline from 77% in 2023 and 78% in 2022. In line with previous years, the most common of these were GOV.UK services ‘check how to export goods’ (53%), though this was a decrease from 68% in 2023. There was moderate awareness of GOV.UK services ‘report a trade barrier’ or ‘check international trade barriers’ at 34%.^{[footnote 5]}

Awareness of International Trade Advisors (31%) and the Export Support Service (20%) were not significantly lower than in 2023 (34% and 23%, respectively) but continued a decline from 38% and 31% in 2022. In contrast, awareness of the UK Export Academy, while still low, increased to 11% from 8% in 2023.

Levels of usage were lower than their level of awareness, with GOV.UK services ‘check how to export goods’ at 32% (down from 45% in 2023), the Export Support Service at 8% and the UK Export Academy at 3% (unchanged from 10% and 2% respectively in 2023).

Expectations for growth and trade

Just under 7 in 10 (68%) businesses were aiming to grow their business, down from 73% in 2023.^{[footnote 6]} A further 20% were aiming for consolidation (up from 14% in 2023) and 13% felt they needed to return to profitability.

Perceptions of there being a lot of demand for UK products and services around the world increased in 2024 (62%) indicating the beginnings of a reversal following a decline over recent years. In 2023, 52% thought there was a lot of demand. For reference, this measure peaked in 2017 when 73% thought there was a lot of demand and had been declining steadily since.

However, there was little change in other attitudes towards exporting in 2024. For example, the proportion of businesses agreeing that there is a lot of opportunity for their business to grow internationally (55%) was the same as in 2023 (55%).

Businesses’ views on the prospect of UK exports increasing over the next 12 months were largely unchanged in 2024, continuing a stabilisation seen in 2023. Just under 4 in 10 (38%) felt that the value of exports will stay the same in the next 12 months (37% in 2023). Around 1 in 4 (24%) felt that exports will increase, consistent with 2023 (28%) while almost the same proportion felt that exports will decrease (22%), unchanged from 21% 2023. Belief that UK export value would increase was highest in quarter 1 of fieldwork (30%) and significantly fell in quarter 3 and 4 (21%).

Importing

Just under half of businesses stated that they had ever imported (47%), with 2 in 5 (39%) having imported in the last 12 months, consistent with 2023. In 2024, current exporters (those in the ‘Sustain’ segment) were most likely to have also imported in the last 12 months, and lapsed exporters (‘Reassure’) were most likely to have previously imported but not in the last 12 months.

Advertising and campaign metrics

In 2021, high profile information and publicity around the EU Exit transition period contributed to higher awareness levels of communications activity on exporting. In 2022, awareness returned to the levels more typically seen in the years prior (28%), declining further in 2023 (24%), before stabilising in 2024 at 23%.

Government remains the main source to which businesses attribute publicity around exporting (74%). In 2024 there was no significant change in general mentions of the UK government (57% compared to 63% in 2023)  or in specific mentions of the Department for Business and Trade or predecessor departments (14% in 2024, 12% in 2023).^{[footnote 7]} The ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ (MIUK) campaign was recognised by 11% of businesses, with fewer recognising ads for the UK Export Academy campaign (4%) or great.gov help and support pages (3%). The 2024 MIUK campaign was largely seen as clear (78%, up from 71% in 2023) and a trusted source of information (69%). Agreement that the campaign was relevant to them increased from 20% in 2023 to 27% in 2024. However, agreement that the campaign contained new information decreased from 51% in 2023 to 37% in 2024, although this was higher among those who had not previously exported (44% compared with 28% of current and previous exporters). Businesses who recognised the ads were asked if they had taken any action as a result. Overall, 21% had either taken some action, planned to take action, or would consider doing so in future, unchanged from 26% in 2023.

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1. There were 5 overseas markets designated as ‘core markets’ at wave 9: the EU, the USA, the Gulf States, Australia and India and were unchanged from wave 8. The EU was included as a core market for the first time in wave 8. These markets were chosen at the start of the 2024 wave on the basis of strategic significance for UK trade. ↩

2. In 2020, the exporting segments were measured using a new set of questions in the NSRB questionnaire, which improved the allocation of respondents to segments, leaving fewer respondents unallocated. Questions have remained consistent since then. Most respondents were allocated to one of the 4 exporting segments, with a small number of unallocated businesses being those who reported being unsure of exporting behaviour, or who refused to answer questions necessary for the segmentation. ↩

3. Two sets of barriers questions alternate between waves, covering internal and external barriers. wave 9 covered internal barriers, last asked in wave 7. ↩

4. Free Trade Agreements set out the rules that cover trade between 2 or more countries and aim to make trading between these countries easier. This may include the removal or reduction of customs duties. See https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/the-uks-trade-agreements ↩

5. New item introduced in wave 9 survey ↩

6. Multiple factors such as the effective base size and design weight influence ‘significance’, this means that the absolute size of the difference between two proportions does not alone determine whether the difference is statistically significant. For example, a difference of 5 percentage points may in one case be a significant difference, and in another case it may not. See section 3.4 for further details. ↩

7. In previous waves, mentions of Department for International Trade. DBT came into existence in February 2023. In the 2024 survey, mentions of Department for International Trade (DIT) or Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) were included in the DBT attribution figure. ↩