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The surplus on trade in services was £2.9 billion, compared with £3.1 billion in November.

The deficit on trade in goods was £7.6 billion, compared with a revised deficit of £7.9 billion in November, previously published as £7.4 billion. Exports fell by £0.2 billion and imports fell by £0.5 billion.

The deficit with the EU (27 countries including Bulgaria and Romania) was £3.5 billion, the same as in November. Exports and imports both rose by £0.2 billion.

There were increases in exports of oil, and chemicals. There was a fall in exports of capital goods. There were rises in imports of chemicals and cars, but imports of oil were lower.

The deficit with non-EU countries narrowed to £4.1 billion compared with the deficit of £4.4 billion in November.

Exports fell by £0.4 billion but imports fell by £0.7 billion. There was a fall in exports of chemicals. There was a rise in imports of fuels other than oil. There were falls in imports of oil and aircraft.

Excluding oil and erratic items, the volume of exports was three and a half per cent lower in December than in November, and the volume of imports was a half per cent lower.

For the year as a whole, the UK’s deficit on goods and services rose to £51.0 billion, compared with a deficit of £46.4 billion in the previous year.

Related links

• Office for National Statistics