United Kingdom chemical trade
Chemicals, plastics and rubber (HS chapters 28 to 40) that United Kingdom reported exporting and importing, with its largest HS codes.
Exports in 2024
$71.7B
−6.6% vs 2023
Imports in 2024
$89.7B
−2.5% vs 2023
Trade balance
−$18B
Net importer
World exporter rank
#12
2.4% of world chemical exports
Trend
United Kingdom's chemical exports and imports per year, 2019 to 2024, as reported by the country.
Exports$71.7B in 2024Imports$89.7B in 2024
$0
$50B
$100B
$150B
Show the numbersHide the numbers
| Year | Exports | Imports |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $73.7B | $85.2B |
| 2020 | $71.7B | $82.8B |
| 2021 | $76.2B | $95.3B |
| 2022 | $78.4B | $104B |
| 2023 | $76.8B | $92B |
| 2024 | $71.7B | $89.7B |
2025 figures are incomplete and not shown yet.
By HS chapter
How United Kingdom's chemical trade in 2024 splits across chapters 28 to 40.
Exports Imports
- 28Inorganic chemicalsExports $2.19BImports $2.5B
- 29Organic chemicalsExports $8.31BImports $8.75B
- 30Pharmaceutical productsExports $27.5BImports $29.8B
- 31FertilisersExports $389MImports $1.22B
- 32Dyes, pigments and paintsExports $3.19BImports $2.3B
- 33Essential oils and cosmeticsExports $6.01BImports $8.32B
- 34Surfactants, soaps and waxesExports $2.35BImports $3.26B
- 35Proteins, starches, glues and enzymesExports $760MImports $1.24B
- 36Explosives and pyrotechnicsExports $39.5MImports $60.5M
- 37Photographic goodsExports $202MImports $367M
- 38Miscellaneous chemical productsExports $7.12BImports $6.56B
- 39PlasticsExports $11.3BImports $19.5B
- 40RubberExports $2.34BImports $5.85B
Largest HS codes
The chemical HS codes United Kingdom exported and imported the most in 2024.
Top exports
- 13004.90Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products not elsewhere classified in heading 3004, for therapeutic…At least 151 destinations$15.4B
- 23002.15Immunological products, put up in measured doses or in forms or packings for retail saleAt least 69 destinations$4.7B
- 33304.99Beauty or make-up preparations and preparations for the care of the skin (other than…At least 131 destinations$1.78B
- 43822.19Diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing, prepared diagnostic or laboratory reagents whether or not on…At least 136 destinations$1.61B
- 53926.90Plastics, other articles not elsewhere classified in chapter 39At least 158 destinations$1.53B
- 63004.39Medicaments containing hormones (but not insulin), adrenal cortex hormones or antibiotics, for therapeutic…At least 84 destinations$1.25B
- 72937.22Halogenated derivatives of corticosteroidal hormonesAt least 10 destinations$1.14B
- 83824.99Chemical products, mixtures and preparations not elsewhere classified in heading 3824At least 116 destinations$1.1B
- 93004.32Medicaments containing corticosteroid hormones, their derivatives or structural analogues (but not containing…At least 54 destinations$1.04B
- 102922.50Amino-alcohol-phenols, amino-acid-phenols and other amino-compounds with oxygen functionAt least 40 destinations$890M
- 112934.99Nucleic acids and their salts, other heterocyclic compounds, not elsewhere classified in heading 2934At least 52 destinations$871M
- 123002.49Vaccines, toxins, cultures of micro-organisms (excluding yeasts) and similar products…At least 70 destinations$853M
Top imports
- 13004.90Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products not elsewhere classified in heading 3004, for therapeutic…At least 50 supplying countries$13.4B
- 23002.15Immunological products, put up in measured doses or in forms or packings for retail saleAt least 19 supplying countries$5.74B
- 33004.39Medicaments containing hormones (but not insulin), adrenal cortex hormones or antibiotics, for therapeutic…At least 24 supplying countries$3.06B
- 43304.99Beauty or make-up preparations and preparations for the care of the skin (other than…At least 71 supplying countries$2.31B
- 54011.10New pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on motor cars (including station wagons and racing cars)At least 31 supplying countries$2.3B
- 63926.90Plastics, other articles not elsewhere classified in chapter 39At least 83 supplying countries$2.3B
- 73002.41Vaccines for human medicineAt least 6 supplying countries$1.74B
- 83303.00Perfumes and toilet watersAt least 39 supplying countries$1.47B
- 93822.19Diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing, prepared diagnostic or laboratory reagents whether or not on…At least 40 supplying countries$1.43B
- 103824.99Chemical products, mixtures and preparations not elsewhere classified in heading 3824At least 35 supplying countries$1.3B
- 113402.50Preparations put up for retail saleAt least 30 supplying countries$1.28B
- 122933.79Lactams, other lactamsAt least 9 supplying countries$1.26B
Main partner countries
Why there is no partner breakdown for United Kingdom.
United Kingdom is one of the 28 major economies whose bilateral reports are used to build the partner data for every other country, so its own partner breakdown is not part of this dataset. Open any of its top HS codes above to see the leading exporters and importers worldwide.
Sourcing from United Kingdom
Turn the statistics into suppliers and quotes.