Does this series include architectural and engineering design fees paid abroad?

No, architectural design and technical engineering consultancies are recorded under other business services.

How are building materials imported for a construction project categorised?

Imported physical materials and machinery without accompanying installation services are catalogued under goods trade rather than construction services.

Why do quarterly construction import figures exhibit sharp fluctuations?

The lumpy timing of major infrastructure contracts and milestone-based invoicing can generate abrupt movements between successive quarters.

UK services imports: construction

Name: UK services imports: construction
Creator: Office for National Statistics (ONS)
License: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

UK services imports: construction stood at £887m in Q2 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Balance of payments table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 1997 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.

Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS)Last updated: Oct 15, 2026, 09:03 UTCCurated by Bui Thanh Phuc

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This indicator in the Balance of payments table

Indicator	Q2-2026	Q1-2026	Q4-2025	Q3-2025	Q2-2025	Q1-2025	Q4-2024	Q3-2024	Q2-2024	Q1-2024
Imports of services by category
Construction services	887	1,143	922	858	764	1,168	876	866	972	850
Personal, cultural and recreational services	2,372	2,286	2,435	2,518	2,455	2,474	2,459	2,389	2,866	3,036

Understanding UK services imports: construction

Expenditure by United Kingdom entities for building, civil engineering, installation, and demolition work undertaken by non-resident enterprises represents the core of this account. It captures short-term site operations performed within the United Kingdom by foreign contractors, alongside goods and services procured locally by UK enterprises operating on temporary building sites abroad. Unlike general merchandise imports, structural components and prefabricated modules delivered without associated assembly labour are omitted and classified under trade in goods. It stands separate from architecture and engineering consultancy, which reside under other business services.

Project staging and unpredictable weather introduce considerable volatility into quarterly totals, alongside shifts between contract milestones. Quarter-on-quarter changes frequently reflect the commencement or conclusion of single large-scale civil ventures rather than broad demand movements. Year-on-year analysis of matching quarters offers a more reliable view of cross-border contracting activity. Early figures rely heavily on enterprise sampling and remain susceptible to revisions when finalised project accounts and tax filings are integrated.

Frequently asked questions

Does this series include architectural and engineering design fees paid abroad?: No, architectural design and technical engineering consultancies are recorded under other business services.
How are building materials imported for a construction project categorised?: Imported physical materials and machinery without accompanying installation services are catalogued under goods trade rather than construction services.
Why do quarterly construction import figures exhibit sharp fluctuations?: The lumpy timing of major infrastructure contracts and milestone-based invoicing can generate abrupt movements between successive quarters.