UK firms show 'resilience' as exports grow in January

07 Apr 2025

Total UK exports in goods and services rose by 2.8% in January, according to the latest trade data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Goods exports were up by 3.5% on this while services exports up by 2.3% month on month.

Non-EU goods exports had strong growth in January with a rise of 5.7% in volume terms, while EU goods exports rose by 1.3% month on month.

Total import volumes into the UK fell by 0.9% in January, with goods imports down by 1.7% in volume terms, while services imports rose by 0.6% in January.

William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: 'UK companies are showing resilience in a more difficult trading world.

'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.

'That is why the forthcoming Industrial and Trade Strategies need to provide practical measures to help boost export performance in key UK sectors – from professional and business services, and advanced manufacturing, to defence and life sciences.

'We also need to see the government push for a new settlement with the EU, our biggest trading partner, to help remove barriers for UK businesses and support them to grow and expand.'