Key Highlights

• The UK’s total trade with China reached £134.7 billion in 2025, an increase of 5.6% from 2024.
• Services exports to China reached £20.6 billion in 2025, a 10-year high and at a CAGR of 7.3%.
• The surplus in services trade reached £11.7 billion in 2025. Over the last five years, this surplus has grown at a CAGR of 3.1%. In comparison, the UK’s deficit in goods trade grew at a CAGR of 0.5% over the same period, indicating a strong momentum in the UK’s services trade relationship with China.
• The UK’s services export profile remains heavily shaped by education, which accounted for more than a third in 2025. Education-related travel (including tuition fees) reached a record £7.3 billion in 2025, reinforcing China’s importance as a market for UK education.
• Beyond travel, British exports for financial services, transportation, and telecommunications services all recorded strong double-digit year-on-year growth in 2025.

Read the report here

The China-Britain Business Council and its members:

The China-Britain Business Council is the UK’s leading business network supporting trade, education, and investment links with China. CBBC serves over 400 UK members and clients, including numerous FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies. 

Since 1954, we have acted as the independent voice of business, and past Chairs include Lord Powell, former foreign affairs advisor to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and Sir David Brewer, former Lord Mayor of the City of London. The current Chair is Sir Sebastian Wood. Lord Sassoon is Honorary President.

Contact:
Romano Tucci, Policy Analyst at the China-Britain Business Council

Romano.tucci@cbbc.org