The United Kingdom, the world's fifth-largest trading nation, is highly dependent on foreign trade. It must import almost all its copper, ferrous metals, lead, zinc, rubber, and raw cotton; most of its tin, raw wool, hides and skins, and many other raw materials; and about one-third of its food.
The United Kingdom's major export commodities are manufactured items and crude petroleum. The top 10 exports are as follows:
% OF COUNTRY TOTAL | |
Telecommunications equipment | 5.8 |
Crude petroleum | 5.6 |
Automobiles | 5.1 |
Automatic data processing equipment | 5.0 |
Medicinal and pharmaceutical products | 3.9 |
Aircraft | 3.6 |
Engines and motors | 3.5 |
Transistors and valves | 3.3 |
Professional and scientific measuring equipment | 3.0 |
Motor vehicle parts and accessories | 2.6 |
In 2000 the United Kingdom's imports were distributed among the following categories:
Consumer goods | 18.1% |
Food | 7.2% |
Fuels | 4.4% |
Industrial supplies | 22.8% |
Machinery | 29.5% |
Transportation | 17.0% |
Other | 1.0% |
Principal trading partners in 2000 (in millions of US dollars) were as follows:
COUNTRY | EXPORTS | IMPORTS | BALANCE |
United States | 41,969 | 39,485 | -2,484 |
Germany | 30,471 | 40,595 | -10,124 |
France | 25,606 | 25,666 | -60 |
Netherlands | 21,080 | 22,049 | -969 |
Ireland | 18,516 | 13,541 | 4,975 |
Belgium | 14,061 | 14,786 | -725 |
Italy | 11,779 | 14,083 | -2,304 |
Spain | 11,760 | 8,913 | 2,847 |
Japan | 5,386 | 15,755 | -10,369 |
China (inc. Hong Kong) | 3,881 | 16,803 | -12,922 |