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Strategic Lens

China and United Kingdom

First country

Second country

In 2025, China sold USD 85.2 billion of goods to United Kingdom and bought USD 18.6 billion from it. Both are members of the G20. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 46 percent in 2023, and 51 percent on average over 2019 to 2023. In 2024, 179 thousand people born in China lived in United Kingdom, and 14 thousand people born in United Kingdom lived in China.

Benefits

  • BothTrade in critical minerals and metals runs both ways in similar amounts: China sold USD 74.4 million and United Kingdom sold USD 78.5 million in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in agricultural and food products grew 71 percent, from USD 1.99 billion in 2019 to USD 3.41 billion in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in machinery, vehicles and iron and steel grew 51 percent, from USD 18.1 billion in 2019 to USD 27.4 billion in 2025.

Constraints

  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, China sold USD 85.2 billion of goods, against USD 18.6 billion the other way.
  • BothTwo-way trade in mineral fuels and oils fell 77 percent, from USD 7.72 billion in 2019 to USD 1.78 billion in 2025.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, China sold USD 17.3 billion of electrical and electronic equipment, against USD 1.16 billion the other way.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026); Wikidata, statements on membership (property P463) (retrieved 26 September 2026); United Nations General Assembly voting data (Voeten, Strezhnev and Bailey), agreement scores (retrieved 25 September 2026); UN DESA International Migrant Stock 2024 (retrieved 25 September 2026)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

At a glance

Goods trade, both ways
USD 103.8 billion
2025, as reported by China
China to United Kingdom
USD 85.2 billion
2025, as reported by China
United Kingdom to China
USD 18.6 billion
2025, as reported by China

What connects China and United Kingdom

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, China sold USD 85.2 billion of goods to United Kingdom and bought USD 18.6 billion from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, China sold USD 308 million of mineral fuels and oils to United Kingdom and bought USD 1.47 billion from it.Critical mineralsIn 2025, China sold USD 74.4 million of critical minerals and metals to United Kingdom and bought USD 78.5 million from it.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, China sold USD 2.24 billion of agricultural and food products to United Kingdom and bought USD 1.17 billion from it.FertiliserIn 2025, China sold USD 13.2 million of fertilisers to United Kingdom and bought USD 9.0 million from it.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, China sold USD 21.6 billion of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to United Kingdom and bought USD 5.74 billion from it.TechnologyIn 2025, China sold USD 17.3 billion of electrical and electronic equipment to United Kingdom and bought USD 1.16 billion from it.Pharma and healthIn 2025, China sold USD 412 million of pharmaceutical products to United Kingdom and bought USD 990 million from it.

Diplomacy

Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of the G20. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 46 percent in 2023, and 51 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.Diaspora and mobilityIn 2024, 179 thousand people born in China lived in United Kingdom, and 14 thousand people born in United Kingdom lived in China.

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