DCMS Sectors Economic Estimates: Trade, 2022 and 2023
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-21)

Official statistics estimating the contribution of DCMS sectors to the UK economy, measured by imports and exports of goods and services.

Revision note:

On 29 July 2025, following the identification of a minor error, the DCMS trade in goods data tables have been updated with revised export and import goods data for 2023 and import data for 2022. These are small changes which do not affect any headline trends and impact a small number of World and Region totals only. The data included in the report is not affected by this change.

The trade in goods data tables have also been updated to include data for 2016.

Headline findings

Trade in the included DCMS sector goods in 2023 is estimated as:

£9.8 billion of goods imports, 1.5% of total UK goods imports (down from 1.8% in 2022 and from 2.3% in 2018).

£11.6 billion of goods exports, 2.7% of total UK goods exports (down from 3.0% in 2022 and from 4.1% in 2018).

Trade in services by businesses in included DCMS sectors in 2023 is estimated as:

£40.6 billion of service imports, 13.7% of total UK service imports (up from 13.2% in 2022 and from 8.9% in 2018).

£63.5 billion of service exports, 13.6% of total UK service exports (up from 13.3% in 2022 and from 12.2% in 2018).

Trade in tourism in 2023 is estimated as:

£72.4 billion in tourism imports (spend on goods and services by UK visitors overseas)

£31.1 billion in tourism exports (spend on goods and services by overseas visitors to the UK)

About

These economic estimates are official statistics used to provide an estimate of the contribution of DCMS sectors to the UK economy, measured by imports and exports of goods and services. Trade in goods estimates are defined based on the type of commodity being traded (rather than the business trading the commodity, whereas trade in services estimates are defined based on the industry of the business trading the service (rather than the type of service being traded). Trade in tourism is estimated by spending by overseas residents in the UK and spending by UK residents overseas as proxy measurements for exports and imports.

These estimates are calculated based on the following data sources:
- Trade in goods - HMRC Overseas trade in goods statistics
- Trade in services - ONS International Trade in Services (ITIS) survey
- Trade in tourism - ONS International Passenger Survey (IPS)
Content

These statistics cover the contributions of the following sectors to the UK economy.

DCMS sectors:
- creative industries
- cultural sector
- gambling (services only)
- sport
- tourism (covered on a separate basis to the other sectors)
Users should note that there is overlap between DCMS sector definitions. In particular several cultural sector industries are simultaneously creative industries.

Trade estimates are not available for the civil society as there are no formally recognised imports and exports of goods and services for civil society from the data sources available. Figures for gambling sector goods imports and exports are also not included in this release as there are no goods associated with this sector in the data sources available (trade in services for the gambling sector is included).

The data tables in this release also include estimates for the audio visual sector. These are not included in the DCMS sector total.

In addition, the trade in goods data tables include estimates of total imports and exports of goods estimates for the arts and antiques market (these are also not included in the DCMS sector total). We are working on producing a fuller breakdown by partner country. A list of the commodity codes (CN08) used to define the arts and antiques market is available in the data tables. We welcome feedback on the definitions used for these statistics, please contact xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) with any comments.

A definition for each sector is available in the tables published alongside this release. Further information is available in the associated technical report including details of methods and data limitations.

Released

These statistics were first published on 26 June 2025.

Feedback

DCMS aims to continuously improve the quality of estimates and better meet user needs. DCMS welcomes feedback on this release. Feedback should be sent to DCMS via email at xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Office for Statistics Regulation

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics (https://code.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/) that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.

You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards by emailing xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing xxx@xxx.xx or via the OSR website (https://osr.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/).

Pre-release access

The accompanying pre-release access document lists ministers and officials who have received privileged early access to this release. In line with best practice, the list has been kept to a minimum and those given access for briefing purposes had a maximum of 24 hours.

Contact

Responsible analyst: Wilmah Tawaziwa

For any queries or feedback, please contact xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).