GCC-UK trade slides 13.86% in 2023
Published: 04:07 PM,Jul 20,2025 | EDITED : 08:07 PM,Jul 20,2025
The United Kingdom ranked 11th in 2023 among the GCC’s trading partners, slipping two positions from 9th in 2022.
MUSCAT: The total trade exchange between countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the United Kingdom declined by 13.86% in 2023, in comparison to 2022, according to recent data from the GCC Statistics Center.
In 2023, the total trade exchange between the two entities amounted to $31.7 billion, signaling a $5.1 billion decrease from the amount in 2022 valued at $36.8 billion.
Exports from the GCC to the UK experienced a sharp decline of 29% in 2023 in comparison to the previous year, totaling $15.6 billion in comparison to $21.9 billion.
Mineral fuels, oils and waxes made up 70.5% of exports with a value of $11 billion. This was followed by miscellaneous items, at 11.6% valued at $1.8 billion.
Machinery and mechanical appliances made up 6.4% of exports with a value of $1 billion, followed by precious stones and metals valued at $0.8 billion (5.1%).
Exports of aircraft and spacecraft and parts accounted for a 3.8% share collectively worth around $0.6 billion, while electrical machinery and equipment made up 2.6% of exports with a value of $0.4 billion.
On the other hand, imports from the United Kingdom to the GCC increased by 8.3%, reaching $16.1 billion in 2023, in comparison to $14.9 billion in 2022.
Miscellaneous items made up the majority of the imports with a value of $6.2 billion (38.5%). This was followed by machinery and mechanical appliances imports, valued at $4.0 billion representing 24.8% of total imports.
Vehicles and vehicle parts represented 19.3% of imports with a value of $3.1 billion, followed by electrical machinery and equipment which represented 6.8% of imports with a value of $1.1 billion.
Imports of precious stones and metals represented 5.6% of total imports, with a value of $0.9 billion, while aircraft, spacecraft and parts made up 5% of imports with a value of $0.8 billion.
The United Kingdom ranked 11th in 2023 among the GCC’s trading partners, slipping two positions from 9th in 2022.
In 2023, the total trade exchange between the two entities amounted to $31.7 billion, signaling a $5.1 billion decrease from the amount in 2022 valued at $36.8 billion.
Exports from the GCC to the UK experienced a sharp decline of 29% in 2023 in comparison to the previous year, totaling $15.6 billion in comparison to $21.9 billion.
Mineral fuels, oils and waxes made up 70.5% of exports with a value of $11 billion. This was followed by miscellaneous items, at 11.6% valued at $1.8 billion.
Machinery and mechanical appliances made up 6.4% of exports with a value of $1 billion, followed by precious stones and metals valued at $0.8 billion (5.1%).
Exports of aircraft and spacecraft and parts accounted for a 3.8% share collectively worth around $0.6 billion, while electrical machinery and equipment made up 2.6% of exports with a value of $0.4 billion.
On the other hand, imports from the United Kingdom to the GCC increased by 8.3%, reaching $16.1 billion in 2023, in comparison to $14.9 billion in 2022.
Miscellaneous items made up the majority of the imports with a value of $6.2 billion (38.5%). This was followed by machinery and mechanical appliances imports, valued at $4.0 billion representing 24.8% of total imports.
Vehicles and vehicle parts represented 19.3% of imports with a value of $3.1 billion, followed by electrical machinery and equipment which represented 6.8% of imports with a value of $1.1 billion.
Imports of precious stones and metals represented 5.6% of total imports, with a value of $0.9 billion, while aircraft, spacecraft and parts made up 5% of imports with a value of $0.8 billion.
The United Kingdom ranked 11th in 2023 among the GCC’s trading partners, slipping two positions from 9th in 2022.