🇬🇧 United Kingdom imports of specialized machinery: 2024 trade data
Imports of specialized machinery by the United Kingdom reached $2.78 billion in 2024 (114.7 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 8th largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 224 countries. That is 6% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
Public statistics, latest reported year 2024. Values in US dollars.
Imports of specialized machinery by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.78B | 114.7K t |
| 2023 | $2.62B | 117.3K t |
| 2022 | $2.29B | 107.2K t |
| 2021 | $2.11B | 90.5K t |
| 2020 | $1.85B | 81.4K t |
| 2019 | $1.90B | 94.8K t |
| 2018 | $1.88B | 87.6K t |
| 2017 | $1.78B | 77.8K t |
Where the United Kingdom imports specialized machinery from
The largest suppliers were Germany (32%), United States (10%), China (9%). Among the main suppliers, Norway grew fastest (+42% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $882.1M | 32% |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $272.2M | 9.8% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $248.2M | 8.9% |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $220.8M | 7.9% |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | $105.6M | 3.8% |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $97.0M | 3.5% |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | $87.2M | 3.1% |
| 🇫🇷 France | $82.9M | 3% |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | $78.2M | 2.8% |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | $66.4M | 2.4% |
Types of specialized machinery under HS 8479
| 8479.89 | Machines and mechanical appliances: having individual functions, n.e.c. or included in this chapter | 57% |
| 8479.90 | Machines and mechanical appliances: parts, of those having individual functions | 23% |
| 8479.82 | Machines: for mixing, kneading, crushing, grinding, screening, sifting, homogenising, emulsifying or stirring | 7.6% |
| 8479.50 | Machinery and mechanical appliances: industrial robots, n.e.c. or included | 5.2% |
| 8479.10 | Machinery and mechanical appliances: for public works, building or the like | 4.8% |
| 8479.81 | Machines and mechanical appliances: for treating metal, including electric wire coil-winders | 0.8% |
| 8479.60 | Machinery and mechanical appliances: evaporative air coolers | 0.6% |
| 8479.30 | Machinery and mechanical appliances: presses for the manufacture of particle or fibre building board of wood or other ligneous materials and other… | 0.6% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8479.
Average import price of specialized machinery
The average declared value was about $24.27 per kg, 31% above the world average of $18.55. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
The United Kingdom also exports specialized machinery
In 2024, the United Kingdom exported specialized machinery worth $2.04 billion (82.5 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 9th largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 217 countries. The largest buyer markets were United States (20%), Germany (10%), France (5%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 36%. Among the main buyer markets, Belgium grew fastest (+49% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | $410.9M | 20% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $207.6M | 10% |
| 🇫🇷 France | $109.0M | 5.4% |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | $108.8M | 5.3% |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $95.1M | 4.7% |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | $91.6M | 4.5% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $68.6M | 3.4% |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | $51.0M | 2.5% |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | $50.6M | 2.5% |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | $46.7M | 2.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Kingdom?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 8479: Machinery and mechanical appliances; having individual functions, n.e.c. in this chapter.
Specialized machinery trade in the United Kingdom: questions
What is the value of specialized machinery imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported specialized machinery worth $2.78 billion in 2024 (114.7 thousand tonnes).
Where does the United Kingdom import specialized machinery from?
The main supplier countries in 2024 were Germany (32%), United States (10%), China (9%).
What is the average import price of specialized machinery in the United Kingdom?
The average declared import value was about $24.27 per kg in 2024, against a world average of $18.55 per kg.
Does the United Kingdom export specialized machinery?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported specialized machinery worth $2.04 billion in 2024, mainly to United States, Germany, France.
What is the HS code for specialized machinery?
Specialized machinery falls under HS heading 8479 (Machinery and mechanical appliances; having individual functions, n.e.c. in this chapter). The six-digit codes under it split the product by type.
How can I find the companies trading specialized machinery with the United Kingdom?
These public statistics stop at country level. EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United Kingdom with shipment-level records, updated weekly, where you can see the importers and exporters by name.
Specialized machinery trade in other countries
More trade data for the United Kingdom
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