Following its latest survey of just over 2000 UK exporters, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has highlighted that only 18% of micro-exporters (those with fewer than 10 employees) increased export orders in the second quarter of 2025 (Q2), with 29% reporting a decrease.
While 27% of all SME exporters surveyed reported a decrease in export orders, 29% of large exporters (with more than 250 staff) increased their export orders.
According to the BCC, this edition of the Trade Confidence Outlook shows that SME exporter sentiment remains very weak, with most not reporting increased export sales or orders, and with micro firms being more likely to be reporting worsening conditions.
In addition, it highlights that SME exporters are consistently more likely to report decreased exports compared to before the pandemic and Brexit. In Q2 2018, only 14% of SME exporters reported a decrease in overseas sales compared to 26% in Q2 2025.
This has led BCC Head of Trade Policy, William Bain, to call for the Government to provide additional support and the right finance and advice to help firms overcome these difficulties.
“The trade strategy sets out a strong framework for how this can be done,” he said, “but we must now move at pace to turn it from the page into practice. If it is effectively executed then it could generate economic growth in every nation and region of the UK, lowering tariffs and removing trade barriers.”
But, Mr Bain concluded, the hard work must start now.
