UK goods exports soared in January – but it may be a false dawn, cautions Parcelhero

March 19, 2026 - PRLog -- The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) international trade bulletin shows UK goods exports climbed by 6.7% in January, a rise of £2bn. Exports to both EU and non-EU countries all rose, with only the US market showing a decline.

This was a strong result, says the international delivery expert Parcelhero, but January's success could prove to be a false dawn before the turmoil that hit export markets in February and March.

David Jinks M.I.L.T., Parcelhero's Head of Consumer Research, says: '2026 got off to a flying start with a £2bn month-on-month increase in goods exports over December 2025. With December traditionally being a strong month because of the Christmas peak, this was a particularly good result.

'Diving into more detail, this rise was because of a £1.1bn (7.1%) jump in exports to non-EU countries and a £0.9bn (6.2%) increase in exports to the EU. Only the troubled US market saw a decline, down by £0.5bn (11.3%).

'Of course, month-on-month figures are volatile, which is why a three-month period is more indicative of the UK's overall trading picture. Here again, it was positive news. Total exports of goods increased by £1.8bn (2%) in the three-month period November 2025-January 2026 over the preceding three-month period (August-October 2025).

'However, it would not pay to bet the farm on the rest of 2026 progressing so smoothly for UK exporters. Already in January we could see the US market faltering. There was a £0.4bn fall in exports of machinery & transport equipment to the US, mostly car exports with smaller falls in exports of most other commodities.

'February's imposition of a global 10% basic tariff on goods arriving in the US will have harmed UK exports to the USA still further. Even though 10% was the rate being paid on many UK products already, the majority of other countries were paying higher tariffs until this change, which means UK products sold in the US are now no cheaper than similar ones from most other countries.

'UK exporters are looking at another period of continuing volatility. Nonetheless, the US remains Parcelhero's biggest individual overseas market and a lucrative one for those exporters prepared to adapt to its challenges. Live information on US courier services, as well as plenty of advice on shipping to America, can be seen at https://www.parcelhero.com/en-gb/international-courier-services/usa-parcel-delivery