Balance of trade · United Kingdom
United Kingdom Goods Trade Balance
The United Kingdom Goods Trade Balance shows the difference between the value of goods (and sometimes services) that the United Kingdom sells abroad and what it buys from abroad, or the growth of exports and imports.
- Importance
- Medium
- Released
- Monthly
- Next release
- Currency
- GBP · pound sterling
- Central bank
- The Bank of England
Latest figures
The latest release for AUG, published on 15 October 2026, came in at £-18.01B.
| Released | For | Actual | Consensus | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Oct 2026 | AUG | £-18.01B | £-21.8B | £-19.3B ® |
| 11 Sep 2026 | JUL | £-20.97B | £-22.3B | £-23.01B |
| 13 Aug 2026 | JUN | £-23.01B | £-20.5B | £-21.08B ® |
| 16 Jul 2026 | MAY | £-18.66B | £-23.6B | £-24.58B ® |
| 12 Jun 2026 | APR | £-26.05B | £-22.5B | £-27.22B |
| 14 May 2026 | MAR | £-27.22B | £-20.0B | £-22.8B ® |
| 16 Apr 2026 | FEB | £-18.79B | £-20.2B | £-15.08B ® |
| 13 Mar 2026 | JAN | £-14.45B | £-22.2B | £-22.72B |
| 12 Feb 2026 | DEC | £-22.72B | £-22.7B | £-23.58B ® |
| 15 Jan 2026 | NOV | £-23.71B | £-20.4B | £-24.17B ® |
| 12 Dec 2025 | OCT | £-22.54B | £ -19.3B | £-18.88B |
| 13 Nov 2025 | SEP | £-18.88B | £-20.8B | £-19.53B ® |
Why it matters
Exports are a big part of demand for open economies (Germany, China, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands). A larger surplus means more foreign demand for the pound sterling; strong imports signal domestic demand. China's figures are read as a gauge of world demand.
How it is calculated
Customs records the value of goods crossing the border; services come from surveys. The balance is exports minus imports, usually seasonally adjusted.
Trade balance = exports − importsWhat changes mean
- Look at exports and imports separately: a wider surplus from collapsing imports is a sign of weak domestic demand, not strength.
- Exchange-rate moves take months to affect trade volumes (the J-curve).
Higher than expected: A larger surplus (or smaller deficit) than expected tends to support the pound sterling.
Lower than expected: A smaller surplus (or larger deficit) than expected tends to weigh on the pound sterling.
A short history
Trade balances were the obsession of mercantilism in the 16th–18th centuries; David Hume's price-specie flow mechanism (1752) explained why surpluses tend to correct themselves.
Questions
What is the United Kingdom Goods Trade Balance?
The United Kingdom Goods Trade Balance shows the difference between the value of goods (and sometimes services) that the United Kingdom sells abroad and what it buys from abroad, or the growth of exports and imports.
What was the latest United Kingdom Goods Trade Balance?
£-18.01B for AUG, published on 15 October 2026 (consensus £-21.8B, previous £-19.3B).
When is the next United Kingdom Goods Trade Balance?
On Thursday 12 November 2026 at 07:00 UTC.
Educational content only, not investment advice. Figures are the published results as recorded by our calendar; market reactions described are typical, not guaranteed.