UK goods exports: London
UK goods exports: London stood at £10,448.12m in Q2 2026, according to HM Revenue & Customs (uktradeinfo). It is one of the indicators in the Trade by UK region table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 2013 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Trade by UK region table
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | |||||||||||
| London | 10,448.12 | 13,509.96 | 9,467.59 | 8,032.36 | 8,165.92 | 12,363.24 | 9,645.87 | 9,394.6 | 9,409.4 | 9,598.91 | |
| South East | 10,298.11 | 9,919.91 | 10,234.3 | 9,998.05 | 9,835.39 | 10,073.98 | 10,018.98 | 9,309.7 | 10,145 | 10,145.29 |
Understanding UK goods exports: London
Customs declarations and value-added tax returns provide the source material for quantifying physical commodity shipments leaving business addresses situated within London for destinations outside the national frontier. This metric isolates outbound merchandise trade originating specifically from enterprises headquartered or operating within the capital, entirely excluding services trade and cross-border movements from other territorial partitions. Unlike national totals that aggregate the entire country, this figure maps regional export performance by attributing shipments to the specific location of the exporting business unit rather than the port of exit.
Interpreting these quarterly figures requires accounting for inherent seasonal fluctuations where certain quarters experience higher cargo volumes due to commercial cycles. Early estimates are routinely subject to subsequent revisions as late customs declarations arrive and administrative records are adjusted. Comparing figures against the identical period a year prior offers a more reliable assessment than consecutive quarter comparisons, which can be distorted by temporary logistical bottlenecks or transitory shipping delays. Analysts should also note that businesses with multiple branches may sometimes misallocate regional headquarters addresses, introducing minor discrepancies in geographic distribution.
Frequently asked questions
- Are service exports included in London goods exports?
- No, this series strictly measures physical merchandise leaving the border and excludes all services trade.
- How is the origin of a shipment determined for this London series?
- Shipments are attributed based on the registered business address linked to the customs declaration or tax record.
- Why might consecutive quarters show volatile movements?
- Logistical scheduling, inventory accumulation, and seasonal shipping patterns frequently cause short-term quarterly swings.