Marine Forwarding

Country guide

Shipping between the US and the United Kingdom

Europe · 60 port guides

In 2025 the United States exported $97.4 billion of goods to the United Kingdom and imported $64.8 billion from there. The United Kingdom ranked 4th among US export markets and 15th among sources of US imports.

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186 ports in the United Kingdom recorded in the World Port Index
US exports, 2025
$97.4BUp 22.5% on 2024 ($79.5 billion)
US imports, 2025
$64.8BDown 5.0% on 2024 ($68.2 billion)
Goods balance
$32.6BUS surplus
Export market rank
4thAmong destinations of US goods
Import source rank
15thAmong sources of US imports

Top goods each way

The five largest Harmonized System chapters by value in 2025, with each chapter's share of the total.

US exports to the United Kingdom

Precious stones, metals and jewelry (chapter 71) led US exports to the United Kingdom at $31.8 billion, 33% of the total. The top three chapters made up 57%.

  1. 71Precious stones, metals and jewelry$31.8 billion32.6%
  2. 88Aircraft and spacecraft$11.8 billion12.1%
  3. 27Mineral fuels and oils$11.5 billion11.8%
  4. 84Machinery and mechanical appliances$8.2 billion8.5%
  5. 85Electrical machinery and equipment$5.5 billion5.6%

US imports from the United Kingdom

Machinery and mechanical appliances (chapter 84) led US imports from the United Kingdom at $12.3 billion, 19% of the total. The top three chapters made up 42%.

  1. 84Machinery and mechanical appliances$12.3 billion19.0%
  2. 87Vehicles and parts$8.1 billion12.6%
  3. 98Special classification provisions$7.0 billion10.9%
  4. 30Pharmaceutical products$5.4 billion8.3%
  5. 85Electrical machinery and equipment$3.8 billion5.8%

Trade terms

The United States has no free trade agreement in force with the United Kingdom, according to the US Trade Representative. Check the duty rate for your goods before you ship.

The International Trade Administration covers the import rules and documents the United Kingdom requires in its Country Commercial Guide.

Through Norfolk-Newport News

The Census Bureau records trade by the US port it passes through. These are its 2025 figures for Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia, for trade with the United Kingdom.

Exports through the port, 2025
$1.9B2.0% of the US total with the United Kingdom
Leading export goods
Pharmaceutical productsHS chapter 30, $307.8 million
Imports through the port, 2025
$1.6B2.4% of the US total with the United Kingdom
Leading import goods
Machinery and mechanical appliancesHS chapter 84, $440.2 million

Trade through Norfolk-Newport News

Ports in the United Kingdom

60 ports in the United Kingdom have a guide here, with depths and facilities from the World Port Index. In the index, Southampton records the deepest cargo pier of them, at 14 m.

Also recorded in the World Port Index for the United Kingdom: Ardglass, Ardrishaig, Ardrossan, Aultbea, Bangor, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Bideford, Bird Port, Blyth, Boston, Bowling, Braefoot Bay Terminal, Bridgwater, Bridlington, Bridport Harbour, Brightlingsea, Brixham Harbour, Broadford Bay, Buckie Harbor, Burghead, Burntisland, Caernarvon, Campbeltown, Castle Bay, Charlestown, Chatham Docks, Colchester, Coleraine, Corpach, Cowes Harbour, Craignure, Crinan (Canal), Dartmouth Harbour, Dunbar, Eyemouth, Faslane, Fawley Marine Terminal, Finnart Oil Terminal, Folkestone Harbour, Fort William, Fowey Harbour, Gairloch, Garlston, Glensanda, Granton, Gravesend, Hartlepool, Hayle, Helmsdale Harbor, Heysham, Holyhead, Hound Point Terminal, Howdendyke, Hunterston, Inverness, Isle of Grain, Kettletoft, Kilkeel, Kyle of Lochalsh, Kyleakin, Lamlash Harbor, Lancaster, Largs, Littlehampton Harbour, Liverpool Bay Terminal, Lochaline, Lochboisdale, Lochmaddy, Lossiemouth, Lyness, Macduff, Mallaig, Methil, Mevagissey, Milford Haven, Millport, Mostyn, Neath, New Holland, Newhaven Harbour, Old Kilpatrick, Ornsay, Padstow, Par, Penzance, Perth, Pierowall, Plockton, Plymouth, Poole Harbour, Port Ellen, Portmahomack Harbor, Portree Harbor, Ramsgate, Renfrew, Rosyth, Rothesay Dock, Rothesay Harbor, Rye Harbour, Scalloway, Scapa Bay, Scarborough, Sharpness, Sheerness, Silloth, South Ness, St Margarets Hope, St. Mary's (Scilly Isl.), Stranraer, Sullom Voe, Tarbert, Teignmouth Harbour, Thamesport, Tilbury, Tobermory, Torquay Harbour, Uig, Ullapool, Warkworth Harbour, Watchet Harbor, Weymouth Harbour, Whitby, Whitehall, Whitstable, Wisbech and Yarmouth Harbour.

Sources

  • US trade figures: US Census Bureau, International Trade API, HS2 total exports and general imports for calendar 2024 and 2025, retrieved November 4, 2026.
  • Port data: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, World Port Index (Pub 150), from NGA's UpdatedPub150.csv as captured by the Internet Archive on September 29, 2026.
  • Trade agreements: Office of the US Trade Representative, free trade agreements, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Import requirements: International Trade Administration, Country Commercial Guides, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Map: Natural Earth 1:110m land, public domain.