The latest figures for UK trade released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that in January 2025 the value of goods exports rose by £1.8 billion (6.3%) with an increase in exports to both EU and non-EU countries.
However, the trade bulletin, available here, also highlights that the total goods and services trade deficit widened by £0.5 billion to £5.7 billion in the three months to January 2025, because imports rose more than exports.
Exports of goods to the United States increased by £0.1 billion, the second consecutive monthly rise, while imports of goods from the United States fell by £0.1 billion. Non-EU goods exports had particularly strong growth in January with a rise of 5.7% in volume terms, while EU goods exports rose by 1.3% month on month.
Responding to the latest data, British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Head of Trade Policy, William Bain, described January as a bright start to the year but added a warning.
“UK companies are showing resilience in a more difficult trading world,” he said. “With US tariffs now a reality, the prospect of more to follow, and retaliatory tariffs by some of our trading partners, the rest of 2025 could be challenging for UK exporters in particular.”
The BCC has urged the Government, in its promised Industrial and Trade Strategies, to provide practical measures to help boost export performance in key UK sectors — from professional and business services, and advanced manufacturing, to defense and life sciences.
In addition, the UK needs to agree a new settlement with the EU, its biggest trading partner, Mr Bain argued.
