UK Trade Balance Posts USD27.18B Deficit in September
The result came slightly better than Wall Street expectations of £20.8 billion ($27.30 billion), though the underlying picture reveals deepening challenges for British exporters.
Outbound shipments contracted sharply to £29.4 billion ($38.59 billion) last month, tumbling 5.5% from August, while the nation simultaneously reduced its purchasing abroad. Inbound goods totaled £50.1 billion ($65.75 billion), down 2% over the same period.
Trade with European Union partners deteriorated modestly, with exports sliding 2.7% to £14.4 billion ($18.88 billion) against imports of £26.5 billion ($34.74 billion)—a 3.3% decline that yielded a bilateral deficit of £12.1 billion ($15.86 billion). The non-EU trade picture proved grimmer, with a shortfall of £8.6 billion ($11.28 billion) resulting from exports dropping 8% to £15 billion ($19.65 billion) even as import purchases fell just 0.5% to £23.6 billion ($30.93 billion).
The American market proved particularly punishing for UK manufacturers. Exports to the United States plummeted 11.4%, driven by collapsing demand for chemicals, machinery, and transportation equipment. American shipments to Britain also declined, falling by £0.5 billion as reduced purchases of petroleum products weighed on the total.
The ONS flagged a stark warning: "The value of goods exports to the United States in September 2025 were at their lowest level since January 2022 and have remained relatively low since the introduction of tariffs in April."
Tariff-related disruption extends far beyond bilateral numbers. The statistics agency cautioned that "There have been considerable changes in the United States international trade policy in recent months, which has posed challenges for UK businesses."
Survey data underscores the magnitude of the shock. Among firms employing 10 or more staff that shipped goods internationally over the preceding year, 34% reported feeling the sting of American tariffs within the previous month, the ONS found. Of those affected enterprises, 22% cited mounting operational costs as the primary consequence.
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