The UK is a large market that is an important player in the world economy. It provides access to various consumer groups and industries. It is an international trade centre with the advantage of doing business in the English language and also offers easy access to Europe in terms of logistics. The UK has a well-developed digital infrastructure and offers a favourable environment for online trade. According to Trade.gov data, the UK is at a very advanced point in terms of exports. Trademap data shows that the UK exported 530 billion dollars to the world in 2022. The UK’s imports from the world in 2022 are 816 billion dollars. In 2022, the country’s exports increased by 13.2% compared to the previous year, while imports increased by 17.4%. This brings the United Kingdom to 14th place in world exports with a share of 2.2%.
According to the report published by the General Directorate of International Agreements and the European Union of the Ministry of Trade, the United Kingdom is expected to be the 6th largest economy in the world in 2023 with a GDP estimated to be 3.3 trillion dollars. The country ranks 23rd in the world with a national income at current prices per capita of 48,913 dollars in 2023.
This article is related to sellers who want to engage in e-export to the United Kingdom.We strongly recommend that you read this article before starting e-export to the UK.
E-commerce in the UK
E-commerce continues to rise in the UK, one of the most popular places in the world for online shopping. In 2020, the volume of e-commerce, which accounted for 20% of the total market in the country, reached 30% in 2021. According to all this data based on the trade.gov report, the UK is one of the first countries that should come to mind when it comes to e-export.
According to PPRO’s research, the UK e-commerce market, worth 281 billion dollars, is growing at 9% per year. The average e-commerce user in the UK spends 4,199 dollars a year on online stores. UK consumers complete 55% of their online purchases using a mobile device.
UK export figures
One of the most important facts for those looking to e-export to the UK is that 42% of consumers prefer cross-border shopping. Overseas purchases account for 11% of the total value of e-commerce in the UK. This makes the UK an important market for e-exports. (PPRO)
The most popular marketplaces in the UK
If you are aiming to export to the UK, it is very useful to know the most popular marketplaces there. According to Statista 2022 July data, Amazon ranked first with 474 million monthly visitors. We can say that this situation has not changed. In 2023, Amazon continues to be at the top of the list. 86% of UK consumers prefer Amazon UK for online shopping. We share with you the list of the most visited marketplaces in the UK and recommend you review all platforms.
- Amazon
- Asos
- Tesco
- eBay UK
- Etsy
- Wayfair
- OnBuy
- ManoMano
- Zalando
In 2023, the UK is expected to see 59% growth in furniture and hardware and 53% growth in sportswear and equipment. According to Google’s The Future of UK Shopping research, the internet habit has become more widespread and research on more than one type of product and different brands has increased by 40%.
Online shopping websites in the UK
If you are curious about the most visited e-commerce websites in the UK, we should share the top 10 with you. Analysing these websites and observing the brands and products will definetely help you on your e-export journey.
- amazon.co.uk
- ebay.co.uk
- argos.co.uk
- etsy.com
- amazon.com
- next.co.uk
- marksandspencer.com
- ebay.com
- screwfix.com
- currys.co.uk
Products exported from Turkey to the UK
According to the United Nations COMTRADE international trade database, the United Kingdom’s imports from Turkey amounted to 15.84 billion dollars in 2022.
You can find the products exported from Turkey to the UK in the table below. If you want to examine it in detail, you can visit the Trading Economics page.
| Articles of iron or steel | 823.52 million dollars |
| Articles of apparel not knit or crocheted | 740.01 million dollars |
| Plastics | 657.31 million dollars |
| Mineral fuels, oils, distillation products | 496.21 million dollars |
| Iron and steel | 479.01 million dollars |
| Paper and paperboard, articles of pulp, paper and board | 399.70 million dollars |
| Aluminium | 314.33 million dollars |
| Edible fruits, nuts, peel of citrus fruit, melons | 240.43 million dollars |
| Furniture, lighting boards, prefabricated buildings | 228.04 million dollars |
| Manmade filaments | 195.62 million dollars |
| Ceramic products | 194.83 million dollars |
| Rubbers | 171.14 million dollars |
| Carpets and other textile floor coverings | 169.68 million dollars |
| Fish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic invertebrates | 168.31 million dollars |
| Copper | 145.16 million dollars |
| Inorganic chemicals, precious metal compound, isotope | 143.42 million dollars |
| Vegetable, fruit, nut food preparations | 125.85 million dollars |
| Other made textile articles, sets, worn clothing | 107.26 million dollars |
Payment methods used in the UK
The UK draws attention as a country where debit and credit card usage is widespread. According to a report by PPRO, British consumers pay 51% of online transactions with debit or credit cards. Payment methods other than cards include e-wallet with 32%, bank transfer with 7% and cash with 1%. Looking at the market share of card providers, Visa stands out with 78%, MasterCard 21% and American Express 1%.
Where should you start for e-export to the UK?
E-commerce abroad is seen as one of the most popular initiatives today. So how can you start e-exporting? As fiCommerce, we can find answers to all your question marks and introduce you to our e-export service. With our e-export service to the UK, you can start selling within the borders of the UK most easily.
- We set up an e-commerce website for your brand with Shopify infrastructure and manage your e-commerce website and stores in marketplaces.
- Depending on the requirements of the operation, we keep your stock in our warehouses in Turkey or the UK, and manage orders from customers for you.
- Our expert team communicates with customers in the UK in English and keeps in touch with you in Turkish, allowing you to carry out operations easily.
- For detailed information about our e-export service, you can visit our E-commerce page and contact us.