For all you sceptics out there – YES, the UK does manufacture and YES we do export. The UK is not just a theme park country with nothing but services and it’s official. The UK is the 6th largest manufacturing country in the world and the 10th largest exporter of merchandise goods. OK, so we are the 2nd largest exporter of commercial services in the world but that’s good too – isn’t it?
Recent newspaper reports show that, though our core exports may have taken a hammering in the past but, as the figure show, many small-scale products are thriving. Exports of toilet soaps, for example, was up 15% in 2009, pharmaceutical export up by 19% (to £19.5 billion) and in 2010 dairy exports alone were up by 24.6% on the previous year (up to £977 million).
It is said that UK firms gain an 34% uplift in productivity when they start exporting and there are certain free services to help – check out “Are you Ready to Export?” In 2010 UK’s top 5 export destinations are:
1. USA £37,561 million
2. Germany £28,390 million
3. Netherlands £20,514 million
4. France £20,137 million
5. Ireland £16,261 million
And we have some great oddities: UK exports tea to China and India, clocks to Switzerland, chocolates to Belgium, ice cream to Iceland, whisky to Ireland, sausages to Germany, pasta to Italy, cheese and wine to France and toys to China. Who said we don’t export – for a small country we are still hitting above our weight!
Related training:
Export Essentials
Letter of Credit Workshop for Exporters
EC Trade and Intrastat
Strong & Herd LLP Blog - Import / Export Services
Shipping office services, helpline, consultancy and supply chain security
I can relate to the missing carnet problem. A couple of years ago we were sending a full exhibition stand of our equipment (medical/ forensic machines) to an exhibition in Switzerland. After loading up the vehicle after the exhibition our drivers rested for the night to get an early start next morning. During the night the truck, complete with contents was stolen. We had insured the goods but hadn't thought about covering the potential duty costs covered by the carnet. Of course we could not provide evidence that the goods had left Switzerland so we got a bill for customs duty and tax (c. £25K. It pays to plan.
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