For the first time since these data were published in 1997, the European Union is no longer the top source of UK imports, according to the latest figures released by the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) on 12 May.
The UK imported £50.6 billion of goods from the EU, 22% less than in the last quarter of 2020. Its imports from outside the EU remained stable over the same comparative period (-1%) but now exceed European imports at £53.2 billion.
However, the ONS says it is too early to assess whether this decline is “due to short-term disruptions or longer-term adjustments to supply chains”.
See the figures: https://bit.ly/3uHxXbD (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)