Largest market shown
Metals: gold, non-monetary, unwrought (but not powder)
$72.2B of latest reported imports and $26.2B of calculated three-year opportunity.
Importer opportunity guide
United Kingdom import opportunities
where to source next
Explore United Kingdom's import market by product, supplier concentration, demand growth, and sourcing gaps. Use reported market size and calculated indicators to decide where deeper supplier research may be useful.
Latest imports$753.4B2024 reported value
Import CAGR+3.8%Three-year reported change
GDP$3.7TLatest reported value
GDP per capita$53.2KLatest reported value
Trade openness35.3%Reported share of GDP
United Kingdom import opportunities
What makes this an attractive import market?
Compare market size and growth with supplier concentration. A large market may still need product, quality, tariff, logistics, and buyer validation.
Current import base
$753.4B in imports
United Kingdom recorded $753.4B in imports in 2024, with a three-year change of +3.8%.
How to use the guide
Compare demand with supply
Start with the highest-value products, then review supplier concentration and market conditions before choosing a sourcing route.
Import market overview
Find products where demand and sourcing options meet
This page separates reported import observations from calculated indicators so market size is not mistaken for a guaranteed sourcing opportunity.
United Kingdom imports products from suppliers across major trade regions. The current profile reports $753.4B of imports in 2024, while the opportunity view highlights product and supplier combinations where market demand and supply context may justify further research.
Use the opportunity table to compare product market size, demand growth, supplier counts, concentration, and projected imports. High concentration can indicate reliance on a small supplier base; it can also reflect specialized products that require careful validation.
Top import opportunities
Products and supplier context to review
The top 50 screened products are ranked by calculated three-year opportunity. Reported market values and calculated indicators are labeled separately.
| Rank | Product | Market size | Demand growth | Suppliers | Concentration | Top supplier | Projected imports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HS 710812Metals: gold, non-monetary, unwrought (but not powder) | $72.2BLatest imports | +15.3% | 52 | 1238 | CANDeclining | $110.6B |
| 2 | HS 271121Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: in gaseous state, natural gas | $12.4BLatest imports | +16.1% | 9 | 9849 | NORDeclining | $19.5B |
| 3 | HS 270900Oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude | $30.0BLatest imports | +5.5% | 36 | 2793 | NORDeclining | $35.2B |
| 4 | HS 870380Vehicles: with only electric motor for propulsion | $14.0BLatest imports | +40.0% | 44 | 2196 | DEUGrowing | $27.3B |
| 5 | HS 851712Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks | $9.4BLatest imports | +7.5% | 106 | 3855 | CHNDeclining | $11.7B |
| 6 | HS 847130Data processing machines: portable, digital and automatic, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display | $6.4BLatest imports | +1.9% | 127 | 7197 | CHNDeclining | $6.7B |
| 7 | HS 880240Aeroplanes and other aircraft: of an unladen weight exceeding 15,000kg | $8.8BLatest imports | +7.3% | 42 | 3475 | USADeclining | $10.9B |
| 8 | HS 271019Product description unavailable | $20.4BLatest imports | +8.4% | 104 | 1109 | USADeclining | $26.0B |
| 9 | HS 271111Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, natural gas | $3.6BLatest imports | +53.5% | 20 | 4661 | USADeclining | $7.0B |
| 10 | HS 841112Turbo-jets: of a thrust exceeding 25kN | $6.8BLatest imports | +8.6% | 50 | 2811 | USADeclining | $8.7B |
| 11 | HS 300490Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.s. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | $13.7BLatest imports | +6.9% | 104 | 1081 | USADeclining | $16.7B |
| 12 | HS 841191Turbines: parts of turbo-jets and turbo-propellers | $7.8BLatest imports | +7.0% | 88 | 2155 | USADeclining | $9.6B |
| 13 | HS 880330Aircraft and spacecraft: parts of aeroplanes or helicopters n.e.c. in heading no. 8803 | $6.2BLatest imports | +4.3% | 125 | 2636 | USADeclining | $7.1B |
| 14 | HS 870322Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1000 but not over 1500cc | $9.0BLatest imports | +4.1% | 61 | 1644 | DEUDeclining | $10.1B |
| 15 | HS 999999Commodities not specified according to kind | $1.9BLatest imports | +16.4% | 28 | 9315 | JPNDeclining | $3.1B |
| 16 | HS 870360Vehicles: with both spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine and electric motor for propulsion, capable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power | $5.9BLatest imports | +36.0% | 37 | 1228 | DEUDeclining | $11.5B |
| 17 | HS 851762Communication apparatus (excluding telephone sets or base stations): machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus | $7.4BLatest imports | +7.4% | 133 | 1422 | CHNDeclining | $9.2B |
| 18 | HS 710813Metals: gold, semi-manufactured | $4.8BLatest imports | +12.5% | 29 | 2645 | AUSDeclining | $6.9B |
| 19 | HS 440131Wood: for fuel, sawdust and wood waste and scrap, agglomerated in wood pellets | $1.9BLatest imports | +28.8% | 38 | 5863 | USADeclining | $3.7B |
| 20 | HS 850760Electric accumulators: lithium-ion, including separators, whether or not rectangular (including square) | $2.8BLatest imports | +17.3% | 84 | 3672 | CHNDeclining | $4.6B |
| 21 | HS 870421Vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), for transport of goods, (of a gvw not exceeding 5 tonnes), n.e.c. in item no 8704.1 | $6.6BLatest imports | +7.4% | 44 | 1711 | TURDeclining | $8.1B |
| 22 | HS 870323Vehicles: spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity exceeding 1500cc but not exceeding 3000cc | $6.1BLatest imports | -0.3% | 76 | 1965 | DEUDeclining | $6.0B |
| 23 | HS 271012Product description unavailable | $5.4BLatest imports | +7.0% | 58 | 1838 | KWTDeclining | $6.6B |
| 24 | HS 382499Chemical products, mixtures and preparations: n.e.c. heading 3824 | $2.3BLatest imports | +30.0% | 90 | 2460 | CHNDeclining | $4.5B |
| 25 | HS 300439Medicaments: containing hormones (but not insulin), adrenal cortex hormones or antibiotics, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | $3.0BLatest imports | +8.7% | 53 | 3150 | ITASlowing | $3.8B |
| 26 | HS 950300Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys: dolls' carriages: dolls: other toys: reduced-size (scale) models and similar recreational models, working or not: puzzles of all kinds | $2.7BLatest imports | +3.5% | 120 | 4071 | CHNDeclining | $3.0B |
| 27 | HS 271600Electrical energy | $3.5BLatest imports | +6.0% | 9 | 2748 | FRADeclining | $4.2B |
| 28 | HS 870350Vehicles: with both compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel) and electric motor for propulsion, incapable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power | $982.1MLatest imports | +54.1% | 16 | 7616 | SVKSlowing | $1.9B |
| 29 | HS 880320Aircraft and spacecraft: under-carriages and parts thereof | $2.0BLatest imports | +11.3% | 91 | 3927 | USADeclining | $2.7B |
| 30 | HS 870340Vehicles: with both spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine and electric motor for propulsion, incapable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power | $5.1BLatest imports | +33.7% | 39 | 987 | FRADeclining | $10.0B |
| 31 | HS 970110Paintings, drawings and pastels: executed entirely by hand, other than drawings of heading no. 4906 | $2.5BLatest imports | +4.4% | 129 | 3309 | USADeclining | $2.8B |
| 32 | HS 300220Vaccines: for human medicine | $1.8BLatest imports | +14.5% | 35 | 3893 | BELDeclining | $2.7B |
| 33 | HS 300215Blood, human or animal, antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products: immunological products, put up in measured doses or in forms or packings for retail sale | $5.7BLatest imports | +3.1% | 49 | 1477 | CHEDeclining | $6.3B |
| 34 | HS 710691Metals: silver, unwrought, (but not powder) | $4.0BLatest imports | +6.3% | 40 | 1690 | CHNStable | $4.8B |
| 35 | HS 870321Vehicles: spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity not exceeding 1000cc | $4.4BLatest imports | +10.2% | 44 | 1287 | ESPSlowing | $5.9B |
| 36 | HS 910221Wrist-watches: whether or not incorporating a stop-watch facility, with automatic winding | $919.2MLatest imports | +11.8% | 66 | 8739 | CHEDeclining | $1.3B |
| 37 | HS 330210Odoriferous substances and mixtures: of a kind used in the food or drink industries | $1.1BLatest imports | +8.7% | 70 | 6310 | IRLDeclining | $1.4B |
| 38 | HS 220421Wine: still, in containers holding 2 litres or less | $2.8BLatest imports | +2.4% | 79 | 2071 | FRADeclining | $3.0B |
| 39 | HS 870332Vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), cylinder capacity exceeding 1500cc but not exceeding 2500cc | $3.0BLatest imports | +1.3% | 47 | 1607 | DEUDeclining | $3.1B |
| 40 | HS 950450Games: video game consoles and machines, other than those of subheading 9504.30 | $1.1BLatest imports | +6.5% | 72 | 6552 | CHNDeclining | $1.3B |
| 41 | HS 020130Meat: of bovine animals, boneless cuts, fresh or chilled | $1.2BLatest imports | +5.2% | 33 | 5841 | IRLDeclining | $1.4B |
| 42 | HS 760612Aluminium: plates, sheets and strip, thickness exceeding 0.2mm, alloys, rectangular (including square) | $1.7BLatest imports | +3.5% | 57 | 3424 | DEUDeclining | $1.9B |
| 43 | HS 160232Meat preparations: of the poultry of heading no. 0105, (i.e. of fowls of the species Gallus domesticus) | $1.9BLatest imports | +9.1% | 39 | 2149 | THADeclining | $2.5B |
| 44 | HS 850440Electrical static converters | $2.7BLatest imports | +5.7% | 128 | 1223 | CHNDeclining | $3.2B |
| 45 | HS 854370Electrical machines and apparatus: having individual functions, not specified or included elsewhere in this chapter, n.e.c. in heading no. 8543 | $1.6BLatest imports | +4.4% | 122 | 2948 | CHNDeclining | $1.8B |
| 46 | HS 870840Vehicles: parts, gear boxes | $1.6BLatest imports | +2.7% | 70 | 3104 | DEUDeclining | $1.8B |
| 47 | HS 200410Vegetable preparations: potatoes, prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar or acetic acid, frozen | $1.3BLatest imports | +7.5% | 39 | 4450 | BELDeclining | $1.6B |
| 48 | HS 901890Medical, surgical or dental instruments and appliances: n.e.c. in heading no. 9018 | $2.6BLatest imports | +6.2% | 121 | 1152 | USADeclining | $3.1B |
| 49 | HS 711019Metals: platinum, semi-manufactured | $1.1BLatest imports | +15.9% | 33 | 2896 | ZAFDeclining | $1.7B |
| 50 | HS 847150Digital processing units: other than those of subheadings 8471.41 or 8471.49, whether or not containing in the same housing one or two of the following types of unit: storage units, input units or output units | $4.2BLatest imports | +1.4% | 99 | 1357 | POLDeclining | $4.4B |
Showing the five highest-ranked products on mobile. View the complete import opportunity data.
Product sectors
Which sectors carry the most demand?
HS2 sectors group the screened products into broader families for an easier first comparison.
| Sector | Products | Market size | Opportunity | Average growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral fuelsHS2 27 | 4 | $49.5B | $40.2B | +20.3% |
| Precious stones and metalsHS2 71 | 4 | $82.1B | $31.3B | +12.5% |
| VehiclesHS2 87 | 10 | $56.6B | $27.9B | +18.9% |
| MachineryHS2 84 | 4 | $25.2B | $14.7B | +4.7% |
| Electrical equipmentHS2 85 | 5 | $24.0B | $14.1B | +8.5% |
| AircraftHS2 88 | 3 | $17.0B | $10.8B | +7.6% |
| Pharmaceutical productsHS2 30 | 4 | $24.2B | $9.1B | +8.3% |
| HS2 sector 00HS2 00 | 2 | $25.8B | $7.7B | +7.7% |
| HS2 sector 99HS2 99 | 1 | $1.9B | $2.9B | +16.4% |
| Toys and sports equipmentHS2 95 | 2 | $3.8B | $2.9B | +5.0% |
| Wood articlesHS2 44 | 1 | $1.9B | $2.8B | +28.8% |
| Chemical productsHS2 38 | 1 | $2.3B | $2.0B | +30.0% |
Supply gaps
Where supplier concentration deserves attention
The concentration index helps identify products where reported imports rely more heavily on a smaller supplier base. It is a screening signal, not a recommendation by itself.
| Product | Market size | Suppliers | Concentration | Top supplier | Share gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS 271121Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: in gaseous state, natural gas | $12.4B | 9 | 9849 | NOR | 99.2% |
| HS 999999Commodities not specified according to kind | $1.9B | 28 | 9315 | JPN | 96.5% |
| HS 910221Wrist-watches: whether or not incorporating a stop-watch facility, with automatic winding | $919.2M | 66 | 8739 | CHE | 93.4% |
| HS 870350Vehicles: with both compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel) and electric motor for propulsion, incapable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power | $982.1M | 16 | 7616 | SVK | 86.9% |
| HS 847130Data processing machines: portable, digital and automatic, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display | $6.4B | 127 | 7197 | CHN | 84.4% |
| HS 950450Games: video game consoles and machines, other than those of subheading 9504.30 | $1.1B | 72 | 6552 | CHN | 80.6% |
| HS 330210Odoriferous substances and mixtures: of a kind used in the food or drink industries | $1.1B | 70 | 6310 | IRL | 79.1% |
| HS 440131Wood: for fuel, sawdust and wood waste and scrap, agglomerated in wood pellets | $1.9B | 38 | 5863 | USA | 75.4% |
Supplier landscape
Which supplier markets appear most often?
These supplier names come from the leading peer signal in the screened opportunity rows and should be validated at product level.
USA
USA, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands
11 screened products
$38.3BCalculated opportunity across these rowsNOR
Norway
2 screened products
$33.7BCalculated opportunity across these rowsCHN
China
10 screened products
$26.2BCalculated opportunity across these rowsCAN
Canada
1 screened products
$26.2BCalculated opportunity across these rowsDEU
Germany
7 screened products
$21.9BCalculated opportunity across these rowsFRA
France
3 screened products
$4.6BCalculated opportunity across these rowsJPN
Japan
1 screened products
$2.9BCalculated opportunity across these rowsAUS
Australia
1 screened products
$2.8BCalculated opportunity across these rowsFrequently asked questions
Using the United Kingdom import opportunity index
Definitions and practical guidance for interpreting market size, growth, suppliers, and concentration.
What are the import opportunities?
They are product and supplier combinations in United Kingdom's screened import market with substantial reported demand and calculated opportunity indicators. They are research priorities, not guaranteed savings or supply contracts.
What does supplier concentration mean?
The concentration index indicates how much reported imports rely on a smaller supplier base. A high value can suggest supply dependence, but it can also reflect specialized products or limited reporting.
How should sourcing teams use this page?
Start with products that fit your specification and volume needs, then validate suppliers, tariffs, standards, logistics, pricing, and continuity for United Kingdom.
Data source
OECD trade statistics with CEPII context
OECD (2025), Balanced international merchandise trade statistics (BIMTS) - HS2017-6D, OECD Data Explorer (accessed on 2026-08-30). OECD BIMTS is the primary trade series for this view. Supporting bilateral trade context uses CEPII BACI bilateral trade flows (202601) under Etalab 2.0 Open Licence. Yugalinks presents derived views of reported observations and calculated indicators. Data terms: OECD Terms & Conditions.