Last week, figures from the automotive industry showed a decline in UK car sales. They also shone a light on the UK's third biggest export - eight out of 10 cars built in the UK are exported.
HM Revenue and Customs releases monthly figures for UK trade. According to the latest figures from October 2011, the UK's biggest export in the year to date was nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances (including parts thereof). Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation,bituminous substances and mineral waxes followed in second place, although incidentally it was also the most highly imported product in 2011 rising by 46% on the year.
Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof ranked as both third highest import and export. In the year to date (October 2011) the UK exported £23bn worth and spent £32bn on importing these items.
The United States received the most British export goods last year, followed by Germany and France. The top trade partner for imports was Germany, followed by the United States and China. The UK exported £31.7bn worth of products to the US.
Check out the tables below for top trading partners or download the spreadsheet for the full data on the UK's top exported and imported goods year on year.
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Comments
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10 January 2012 1:04PM
Where is everybody? No comments yet that Britain no longer dos a car manufacturing since Maggie? Our railway industry has been destroyed? We don't need Europe becuase the future is in China?
10 January 2012 1:28PM
It would be interesting to see a cross tab of what we export and to who.