Accredited official statistics

Overseas trade statistics corrections, 2015 - 2019: summary report

Published 11 November 2021

漏 Crown copyright 2021

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This publication is available at /government/statistics/overseas-trade-statistics-corrections-2015-to-2019/overseas-trade-statistics-corrections-2015-2019-summary-report

About this release

This article summarises the unscheduled corrections made to overseas trade in goods statistics for 2015 to 2019. Supporting data tables which detail the corrections implemented can be found at

Summary

Following quality assurance and checking procedures, HMRC has identified several areas where businesses had submitted incorrect trade data on their original trade declarations. Corrections have been applied to the overseas trade in goods statistics from 2015 to 2019. These corrections have been released today in line with the UK statistical authority Code of Practice for statistics and the HMRC revision policy.

These revisions are reflected in the interactive data tables available on the HMRC trade data website.

Unscheduled corrections - exports 2019

The corrections made to exports for 2019 are:

  • Art and antiques, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢4,836.8 million decrease for Chapter 97
  • Precious metals, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢1,409.5 million decrease for Chapter 71
  • Mechanical appliances, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢342.0 million decrease for Chapter 84
  • Knitwear, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢162.8 million decrease for Chapter 61
  • Clothes, not knitted, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢146.3 million decrease for Chapter 62
  • Motor vehicles, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢107.3 million decrease for Chapter 87
  • Aircraft, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢95.0 million decrease for Chapter 88
  • Electronic equipment, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢86.2 million decrease for Chapter 85
  • Measuring devices and gauges, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢78.8 million decrease for Chapter 90
  • Articles of iron or steel, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢38.0 million decrease for Chapter 73
  • Footwear, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢35.8 million decrease for Chapter 64
  • Other base metals, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢34.9 million decrease for Chapter 81
  • Plastics and plastic products, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢24.9 million decrease for Chapter 39
  • Clocks and watches, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢22.4 million decrease for Chapter 91
  • Cosmetic products, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢18.0 million decrease for Chapter 33
  • Edible preparations, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢16.8 million decrease for Chapter 21
  • Beverages, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢13.9 million decrease for Chapter 22
  • Books and newspapers, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢13.4 million decrease for Chapter 49
  • Live animals, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢11.8 million decrease for Chapter 01
  • Leather goods, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢10.0 million decrease for Chapter 42
  • All other chapters, UK exports to non-EU countries
    • 拢84.4 million total decrease for all other Chapters

Unscheduled Corrections - Imports 2015 to 2019

The corrections made to imports from 2015 to 2019 are:

  • Cement, UK imports from EU countries
    • 拢8.3 million of movement within Chapter 25, 2018
  • Precious metals, UK imports from EU countries
    • 拢2.1 million decrease for Chapter 71, 2015
    • 拢14.2 million decrease for Chapter 71, 2016
    • 拢6.8 million decrease for Chapter 71, 2017
    • 拢8.8 million decrease for Chapter 71, 2018
  • Iron and steel, UK imports from non-EU countries
    • 拢29.2 million of movement within Chapter 72, 2015, with 拢0.3 million increase
    • 拢22.7 million of movement within Chapter 72, 2016
    • 拢18.4 million of movement within Chapter 72, 2017
    • 拢7.2 million of movement within Chapter 72, 2018, with 拢0.005 million decrease
    • 1.3 million of movement within Chapter 72, 2019
  • Iron and steel, UK imports from EU countries
    • 55.5 million kg decrease to net mass for Chapter 72, 2019, with no change to associated value
  • Trains and track fixtures, UK imports from EU countries
    • 拢238.0 million increase for Chapter 86, 2019
  • Motor vehicles, UK imports from EU countries
    • 拢36.5 million decrease for Chapter 87, 2018

Explanatory notes

  1. The Code of Practice for statistics defines unscheduled corrections as 鈥渁mendments made to published statistics in response to the identification of errors following their initial publication鈥�

  2. These unscheduled corrections have been made in accordance with the Code of Practice for statistics principles and practices, namely: T3.9 which states that 鈥淪cheduled revisions or unscheduled corrections to the statistics and data should be released as soon as practicable. The changes should be handled transparently in line with a published policy鈥�; and Q3.4 鈥淪cheduled revisions, or unscheduled corrections that result from errors, should be explained alongside the statistics, being clear on the scale, nature, cause and impact鈥�.

  3. Please note that all value (拢) changes listed in this document have associated net mass and supplementary changes, unless otherwise stated.

  4. Corrections to the regional trade in goods statistics (2015 to 2019) and UK Trade in goods by Business Characteristics (2015 to 2019) will be made within future releases respectively.

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