Statistics on UK trade with the Commonwealth

This note gives some key statistics on UK-Commonwealth trade.

This short note provides some key statistics on the UK’s trade with the Commonwealth – all data are from the Office for National Statistics. The attached Excel spreadsheet (see under supporting documents) allows for easy access and presentation of detailed 2018 data on trade between the UK and individual Commonwealth countries and trade trends between 1999 and 2018.

In 2018:

• UK exports to the Commonwealth were worth £59.8 billion; British imports from the Commonwealth were £55.5 billion.
• The UK had a trade surplus with the Commonwealth of £4.2 billion – a deficit in goods was more than offset by a surplus in services.
• The Commonwealth accounted for 9.3% of UK exports – roughly the same as UK exports to Germany.
• The Commonwealth accounted 8.1% of UK imports – roughly the same as UK imports from the Netherlands.
• UK trade with the Commonwealth was heavily focused on five countries – Australia, Canada, India, Singapore and South Africa; combined these countries accounted for 73% of UK exports to the Commonwealth and 66% of UK imports from the Commonwealth.