Official Statistics

UK trade in goods by business characteristics 2022

Published 30 November 2023

Currently these statistics are labelled as Official statistics in development. For more information on this and on other important features of this publication, users are advised to consult the guidance notes.

Introduction

HMRC has linked the Overseas Trade Statistics (OTS) with business statistics from the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR).

This release details the attributes of businesses (enterprises) that have reported trade in goods. Attributes are broken down by industry group, size of business (number of employees) and age of business.

For more detailed information for 2022, users can download UK trade in goods by business characteristics data tables.

Data source changes for this release

Since the release of the 2021 data, data source changes have affected the methodology for producing these statistics.

In 2021, the Intrastat survey was retained for data purposes for UK imports from the EU above the Intrastat threshold. However, VAT returns only captured information on Northern Ireland (NI) trade with the EU. This meant that there was no data on trade below the Intrastat threshold for GB imports from the EU.

It was therefore not possible to accurately produce business characteristics for UK imports from the EU for 2021. These statistics were consequently excluded from the 2021 data. Only the non-EU portion of import statistics were compiled.

From 2022, data on GB imports from the EU is sourced from Customs declarations. Data on NI imports from the EU remained as collected through the Intrastat Survey, and through VAT returns for traders below the Intrastat threshold.

This enabled a full imports dataset for 2022 data. However, comparisons with previous annual datasets should not be made due to these data source issues outlined above.

For exports, the timeseries break occurred between 2020 and 2021. Therefore, comparisons can be made between 2021 data and 2022 data presented in this report. However, comparisons should not be made between 2022 data and data for periods prior to 2021.

Export summary statistics

Total exports of goods in 2022

£432 billion up £90 billion (26%) on 2021

Total exporting businesses (enterprises) contributing to the total exports of goods value in 2022

126,000 down 1,000 (0.9%) on 2021

Total employees in these exporting businesses (enterprises) in 2022

10.4 million down 0.1 million (1.1%) on 2021

Export trade by industry group

Table 1. UK export trade value in 2021 and 2022, by industry group (£ billion) 

Industry Group	2021	2022
Group 1 - Agriculture & food	18.0	22.3
Group 2 - Mining, petroleum products & waste	25.7	44.4
Group 3 - Chemicals	22.1	22.3
Group 4 - Pharmaceuticals	11.1	11.8
Group 5 - Electronic & electrical equipment	14.6	15.9
Group 6 - Machinery & equipment n.e.s.	18.1	21.1
Group 7 - Motor vehicles, transport equipment	22.9	26.8
Group 8 - Aerospace and related machinery	20.4	24.3
Group 9 - Other manufacturing	19.0	21.3
Group 10 - Services	144.7	197.7
Unknown	25.6	24.0
Total	342.3	431.9

Download Table 1. UK export trade value in 2021 and 2022, by industry group (ODS, 9.42KB)

Source:
HM Revenue & Customs Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics, and Office for National Statistics Inter-Departmental Business Register data.

Note:
Unknown - Businesses are classified in the Unknown category for several reasons. These are related to data matching issues for their registered details, invalid details, their location, or type of trade. Further details can be found in the Business characteristics guidance notes.

Figure 1. Percentage change in UK export trade value between 2021 and 2022, by industry group

Industry Group	Change (%)
Group 1 - Agriculture & food	24
Group 2 - Mining, petroleum products & waste	73
Group 3 - Chemicals	1
Group 4 - Pharmaceuticals	6
Group 5 - Electronic & electrical equipment	9
Group 6 - Machinery & equipment n.e.s.	16
Group 7 - Motor vehicles, transport equipment	17
Group 8 - Aerospace and related machinery	19
Group 9 - Other manufacturing	12
Group 10 - Services	37

Download detailed data on export trade by industry group (ODS, 8.84KB)

Source:
HM Revenue & Customs Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics, and Office for National Statistics Inter-Departmental Business Register data.

Note:
Group 10 – Services data relates to trade in goods made by businesses classified within the Services industry, but not the services they provide.

Total value of exports, by industry group

The increase in the total value of exports between 2021 and 2022 was largely led by:

• Industry Group 10 – Services, up to £198 billion from £145 billion (37%)
• Industry Group 2 – Mining, petroleum products & waste, up to £44 billion from £26 billion (73%)

Share of total value of exports in 2022: 

• Industry Group 10 – Services accounted for the largest share, 46% 

• Industry Group 2 – Mining, petroleum products & waste accounted for the second largest share, 10%

Total number of exporting businesses, by industry group

The decrease in the total number of exporting businesses between 2021 and 2022 was led by:

• Industry Group 10 – Services, down 247 (0.3%)
• Industry Group 5 – Electronic & electrical equipment, down 35 (0.9%)
• Industry Group 3 – Chemicals, down 25 (1.6%)

Share of total number of exporting businesses in 2022: 

• Industry Group 10 – Services accounted for the largest share, 67%  
• Industry Group 9 – Other manufacturing accounted for the second largest share, 9% 
• Industry Group 1 – Agriculture & food accounted for the third largest share, 5% 
• Industry Group 5 – Electronic & electrical equipment accounted for 3% 
• Industry Group 3 – Chemicals accounted for 1%

Total number of employees in exporting businesses, by industry group

The decrease in the total number of employees in exporting businesses between 2021 and 2022 was led by:

• Industry Group 10 – Services, down 101,000 (1.2%)
• Industry Group 2 – Mining, petroleum products & waste, down 15,000 (4.8%)
• Industry Group 8 – Aerospace & related machinery, down 14,000 (15%)

Share of total number of employees in exporting businesses in 2022: 

• Industry Group 10 – Services accounted for the largest share, 81% 
• Industry Group 1 – Agriculture & food accounted for the second largest share, 5% 
• Industry Group 9 – Other manufacturing accounted for the third largest share, 5%
• Industry Group 2 – Mining, petroleum products & waste accounted for 3% 
• Industry Group 8 – Aerospace & related machinery accounted for 1%

Note: Employee count changes have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

Export trade by business size

Table 2. UK export trade value in 2021 and 2022, by business size (£ billion) 

Employee Size	2021	2022
0 employees	0.1	0.2
1 to 9 employees	16.0	18.7
10 to 49 employees	27.7	32.9
50 to 249 employees	51.0	59.3
250 + employees	192.7	253.8
Unknown	54.7	67.0
Total	342.3	431.9

Download Table 2. UK export trade value in 2021 and 2022, by business size (ODS, 9.00KB)

Source:
HM Revenue & Customs Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics, and Office for National Statistics Inter-Departmental Business Register data.

Note:
Unknown - Businesses are classified in the Unknown category for several reasons. These are related to data matching issues for their registered details, invalid details, their location, or type of trade. Further details can be found in the Business characteristics guidance notes.

Figure 2. Percentage change in UK export trade value between 2021 and 2022, by business size

Employee Size	Change (%)
0 employees	19
1 to 9 employees	17
10 to 49 employees	19
50 to 249 employees	16
250 + employees	32

Download detailed data on export trade by business size (ODS, 8.56KB)

Source:
HM Revenue & Customs Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics, and Office for National Statistics Inter-Departmental Business Register data.

Total value of exports, by business size

The increase in the total value of exports between 2021 and 2022 was largely led by Large businesses (250+ employees), up to £254 billion from £193 billion (32%).

Share of total value of exports in 2022: 

• Large businesses (250+ employees), 59% 
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (1 to 249 employees), 26% 
• Businesses with zero employees, less than 1%
• Businesses of unknown size, 16%

Total number of exporting businesses, by business size

The decrease in the total number of exporting businesses between 2021 and 2022 was led by:

• Businesses with 1 to 9 employees, down 718 (1.2%)
• Businesses with zero employees, down 273 (9.1%)

Share of total number of exporting businesses in 2022: 

• Large businesses (250+ employees), 3%  
• SMEs (1 to 249 employees), 82% 
• Businesses with zero employees, 2%
• Businesses of unknown size, 13%

Total number of employees in exporting businesses, by business size

The decrease in the total number of employees in exporting businesses between 2021 and 2022 was led by Large businesses (250+ employees), down 122,000 (1.5%).

Share of total number of employees in exporting businesses in 2022: 

• Large businesses (250+ employees), 79%  
• SMEs (1 to 249 employees), 21%

Note: Employee count changes have been rounded to the nearest thousand. No information is available concerning the number of employees in the unknown size group.

Export trade by business age

Table 3. UK export trade value in 2021 and 2022, by business age (£ billion) 

Age	2021	2022
0 to 1 years	2.4	1.6
2 to 3 years	3.7	4.8
4 to 5 years	5.4	5.0
6 to 9 years	9.6	10.5
10 to 20 years	33.0	39.8
20 + years	253.0	327.8
Unknown	35.1	42.4
Total	342.3	431.9

Download Table 3. UK export trade value in 2021 and 2022, by business age (ODS, 9.05KB)

Source:
HM Revenue & Customs Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics, and Office for National Statistics Inter-Departmental Business Register data.

Note:
Unknown - Businesses are classified in the Unknown category for several reasons. These are related to data matching issues for their registered details, invalid details, their location, or type of trade. Further details can be found in the Business characteristics guidance notes.

Figure 3. Percentage change in UK export trade value between 2021 and 2022, by business age

Age	Change (%)
0 to 1 years	-36
2 to 3 years	30
4 to 5 years	-7
6 to 9 years	9
10 to 20 years	20
20 + years	30

Download detailed data on export trade by business age (ODS, 8.58KB)

Source:
HM Revenue & Customs Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics, and Office for National Statistics Inter-Departmental Business Register data.

Total value of exports, by business age

The increase in the total value of exports between 2021 and 2022 was led by businesses over 20 years of age, up to £328 billion from £253 billion (30%).

Share of total value of exports in 2022: 

• Businesses aged under 10 years, 5% 
• Businesses aged over 10 years, 85%  
• Businesses of unknown age, 10%

Total number of exporting businesses, by business age

The decrease in the total number of exporting businesses between 2021 and 2022 was led by:

• Businesses 0 to 1 years, down 1,000 (20%) 
• Businesses 2 to 3 years, down 305 (3.7%) 

This was offset by an increase in the number of exporting business over 20 years old, up 1,000 (2.3%).

Share of total number of exporting businesses in 2022: 

• Businesses aged under 10 years, 28% 
• Businesses aged over 10 years, 62% 
• Businesses of unknown age, 11%

Total number of employees in exporting businesses, by business age

The decrease in the total number of employees in exporting businesses between 2021 and 2022 was led by businesses over 20 years old, down 161,000 (1.7%).

Share of total number of employees in exporting businesses in 2022: 

• Employees in businesses aged under 10 years, 5%  
• Employees in businesses aged over 10 years, 95%

Note:
Business and employee count changes in the thousands have been rounded to the nearest thousand. No information is available concerning the number of employees in the unknown age group.

Import summary statistics

Statistics for importing businesses only cover attributes for trade in 2022.

Comparisons with previous years’ datasets for imports cannot be made. This is due to the data source issues outlined at the beginning of this commentary.

Total imports of goods in 2022

£667 billion

Total importing businesses (enterprises) contributing to the total imports of goods value in 2022

250,000

Total employees in these importing businesses (enterprises) in 2022

13.0 million

Import trade by industry group

Figure 4. UK import trade value in 2022, by industry group

Industry Group	£ billion
Group 1 - Agriculture & food	27.9
Group 2 - Mining, petroleum products & waste	70.5
Group 3 - Chemicals	19.6
Group 4 - Pharmaceuticals	7.9
Group 5 - Electronic & electrical equipment	11.9
Group 6 - Machinery & equipment n.e.s.	12.5
Group 7 - Motor vehicles, transport equipment	22.2
Group 8 - Aerospace and related machinery	10.8
Group 9 - Other manufacturing	21.9
Group 10 - Services	426.8
Unknown	34.6
Total	666.7

Download detailed data on import trade by industry group (ODS, 9.05KB)

Source:
HM Revenue & Customs Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics, and Office for National Statistics Inter-Departmental Business Register data.

Note:
Group 10 – Services data relates to trade in goods made by businesses classified within the Services industry, but not the services they provide.

Unknown - Businesses are classified in the Unknown category for several reasons. These are related to data matching issues for their registered details, invalid details, their location, or type of trade. Further details can be found in the Business characteristics guidance notes.

No information is available concerning the number of employees in the unknown group.

Share of total import value in 2022, by industry group

The UK’s top 3 importing industries in 2022 by share of the total import value were:

• Industry Group 10 – Services, 64%
• Industry Group 2 – Mining, petroleum products & waste, 11%
• Industry Group 1 – Agriculture & food, 4%

Share of total number of importing businesses in 2022, by industry group

The UK’s top 3 importing industries in 2022 by share of the total number of importing businesses were:

• Industry Group 10 – Services, 73% (182,000)
• Industry Group 9 – Other manufacturing, 6% (14,000)
• Industry Group 1 – Agriculture & food, 5% (13,000)

Share of total number of employees in importing businesses in 2022, by industry group

The UK’s top 3 importing industries in 2022 by share of the total number of employees in importing businesses were:

• Industry Group 10 – Services, 83% (11 million)
• Industry Group 1 – Agriculture & food, 5% (644,000)
• Industry Group 9 – Other manufacturing, 4% (529,000)

Note:
Business and employee counts in the thousands have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

Import trade by business size

Figure 5. UK import trade value in 2022, by business size

Employee Size	£ billion
0 employees	0.5
1 to 9 employees	42.5
10 to 49 employees	70.3
50 to 249 employees	97.2
250 + employees	319.0
Unknown	137.1
Total	666.7

Download detailed data on import trade by business size (ODS, 8.72KB)

Source:
HM Revenue & Customs Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics, and Office for National Statistics Inter-Departmental Business Register data.

Note:
Unknown - Businesses are classified in the Unknown category for several reasons. These are related to data matching issues for their registered details, invalid details, their location, or type of trade. Further details can be found in the Business characteristics guidance notes.

No information is available concerning the number of employees in the unknown group.

Share of UK import characteristics in 2022, by business size

Large businesses (250+ employees) in 2022:

• Contributed 48% (£319 billion) of the UK’s total import value
• Accounted for 2% (5,000) of the UK’s importing businesses
• Employed 77% (10 million) of employees employed by importing businesses

SMEs (1 to 249 employees) in 2022:

• Contributed 32% (£210 billion) of the UK’s total import value
• Accounted for 70% (176,000) of the UK’s importing businesses
• Employed 23% (3 million) of employees employed by importing businesses

Businesses with zero employees in 2022: 

• Contributed 0.1% (£0.5 billion) of the UK’s total import value 
• Accounted for 2% (6,000) of the UK’s importing businesses

Note: Business counts have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

Import trade by business age

Figure 6. UK import trade value in 2022, by business age

Age	£ billion
0 to 1 years	7.3
2 to 3 years	15.9
4 to 5 years	10.9
6 to 9 years	26.4
10 to 20 years	88.9
20 + years	451.8
Unknown	65.4
Total	666.7

Download detailed data on import trade by business age (ODS, 8.75KB)

Source:
HM Revenue & Customs Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics, and Office for National Statistics Inter-Departmental Business Register data.

Note:
Unknown - Businesses are classified in the Unknown category for several reasons. These are related to data matching issues for their registered details, invalid details, their location, or type of trade. Further details can be found in the Business characteristics guidance notes.

No information is available concerning the number of employees in the unknown group.

Businesses aged under 10 years in 2022: 

• Contributed 9% (£61 billion) of the UK’s total import value 
• Accounted for 41% (103,000) of the UK’s importing businesses 
• Employed 6% (791,000) of employees employed by importing businesses 

Businesses aged over 10 years in 2022: 

• Contributed 81% (£541 billion) of the UK’s total import value 
• Accounted for 46% (114,000) of the UK’s importing businesses 
• Employed 94% (12 million) of employees employed by importing businesses 

Businesses of unknown age in 2022: 

• Contributed 10% (£65 billion) of the UK’s total import value 
• Accounted for 13% (33,000) of the UK’s importing businesses 

All business counts, and employee counts for businesses aged under 10 years have been rounded to the nearest thousand.