15.10.202606:13:41UTC+00UK Trade Gap Smallest in 7 Months

The United Kingdom’s trade deficit narrowed to £0.92 billion in August 2026, down from a revised £2.32 billion in July. This marked the smallest trade gap since January, when the country recorded a trade surplus, as rising exports coincided with falling imports.

Total exports edged up 0.1% month-on-month to £82.33 billion, while total imports declined 1.5% to a seven-month low of £83.25 billion.

Goods exports dipped 0.1% to £36.18 billion. Shipments to non-EU countries rose 0.9%, driven largely by a £0.3 billion increase in chemical exports. In contrast, exports to the EU fell 7.3%, weighed down by a £0.5 billion drop in machinery and transport equipment exports.

Services exports increased 0.4% to £46.15 billion.

On the import side, goods imports fell 2.4% to a seven-month low of £54.19 billion. Imports from non-EU countries declined 6.3%, mainly reflecting lower purchases of machinery and transport equipment, while imports from EU countries rose 1.6%. Services imports edged up 0.2% to £29.06 billion.