UK can’t export EU’s illegal migrants but increases exports of goods to EU instead

This report has been co-published with our affiliated organisation, Brexit Facts4EU.Org. We are most grateful for their original research into the raw data which backs what follows.

UK’s goods exports to EU reach record high – official figures

Global Britain continues to sell more to the EU and more to the world

The latest trade figures released by the Office for National Statistics show Global Britain forging ahead in its exports of goods.

The UK has been unable to return the EU’s illegal migrants to them, as France refuses to take them back. Thanks to the European judges sitting in Strasbourg yesterday, readers will also know that they have banned the UK’s export of the EU’s illegal migrants to Rwanda instead.

Nevertheless, British companies have steadily been increasing exports of another kind – goods.

Global Britain is at least exporting goods to the EU – in record numbers

Within all the numbers, the value of goods exports to the EU are extraordinary.

“EU exports have increased for the third consecutive month in April 2022 and are at the highest levels since records began.”

– ONS, 13 June 2022

BREXIT SUMMARY

Total exports of goods increased by £2.2 billion (7.4%) in April 2022 compared with March 2022
Exports to EU countries increased by £1.2 billion (8.1%)
Exports to non-EU countries increased by £0.9 billion (6.5%)
Exports to the EU are now at the highest levels since records began

The UK’s exporters have been working hard, despite the EU’s efforts to thwart them

Goods exports to the EU reached £16.4 billion in April 2022, their highest level in current prices since the series began in 1997.

The media has been full of stories about UK exporters struggling to comply with the onerous and overly-bureaucratic import controls imposed by the EU. Some smaller companies have simply given up the fight and are now reaching out to world markets.

Despite the EU’s best efforts, however, Facts4EU.Org’s analysis for CIBUK clearly shows that exports to the EU have been gradually rising since Brexit. In April they rose faster than to the rest of the world and are now at their highest level since records began.

Former Brexit Minister the Rt Hon David Jones MP said:

“For years, we were told by Remainers that Brexit would be disastrous for British exporters: that we needed to be part of the EU single market if we were not to experience a catastrophic collapse in trade. These new figures show just how wrong the naysayers were.

“Nimble, innovative British businesses have demonstrated that their world-beating products have a ready market in the EU and in the rest of the world. There is no need to surrender our national independence to trade successfully with our European neighbours – and there never was.”

– The Rt Hon David Jones MP, Deputy Chairman of the ERG and former Brexit Minsiter, 15 June 2022

What are we selling to the EU?

Exports to EU countries were £1.4 billion higher than exports to non-EU countries in April 2022.

The increases in UK exports to the EU involved an increase in machinery and transport equipment of £0.6 billion and an increase in fuels of £0.5 billion. Part of the latter comprises exports of oil to Ireland. The UK has also continued to import Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) from non-EU countries and is increasing exports of gas to continental Europe to fill storage sites.

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Who are the UK’s best customers?

The total of the UK’s goods exports to April 2021 is £321.8 billion. Below we show the UK’s top five customers.

USA
Germany
Netherlands
Ireland
France