There are two published data sources that provide sub-national information about the numbers of businesses that are exporters or importers:
A dataset based on responses to the ONS Annual Business Survey (ABS) provides information about exporters and importers of both goods and services. The latest release was in July 2024 and included data for years up to and including 2022. The ABS asks VAT/PAYE registered businesses outside of the financial sector about their activities.
A more timely and detailed dataset from HMRC focuses on importers and exporters of goods only. It is part of the quarterly Regional Trade in Goods Statistics release and includes regional exporter and importer counts for individual markets. It does not include information about the total number of businesses involved in the international trade of goods.
In both cases, the smallest geographies that the statistics cover are UK ITL1 areas. In England, there are nine ITL1 areas or regions. The North East ITL1 area includes the North East and Tees Valley MCA areas.
This report currently focuses on these two sources alone. In the future, we will add information based on outputs from commercial datasets that are sourced from Companies House records. This will allow estimates of business counts for smaller geographies, including the area covered by the Combined Authority. These sources include information about the sectors that exporters and importers work in.
North East exporters and importers
6,800
Exporters and/or importers
North East ITL1 region, 2022. 9.5% of businesses. 5,100 exporters, 3,800 importers, 7.1% and 5.3% of businesses.
4,300
Services exporters and/or importers
2022, latest North East data. 6.0% of businesses, 2,700 more exporters than importers.
4,000
Goods exporters and/or importers
2022, later data available from HMRC. 5.6% of businesses, 800 fewer exporters than importers.
+36%
2022 compared to 2020
North East exporters and/or importers. 38% increase in exporters, 15% increase in importers.
North East exporters and importers of goods or services
Source: Exporters and importers by regional breakdown (ONS). Latest release (2022 data): 01 Jul 2024. Geography: The North East ITL1 area, which includes the North East and Tees Valley MCA areas. Data information: Based on responses to the Annual Business Survey of non-financial private sector businesses. Many businesses are both exporters and importers of goods or services.
Source: Exporters and importers by regional breakdown (ONS). Latest release (2022 data): 01 Jul 2024. Geography: The North East ITL1 area, which includes the North East and Tees Valley MCA areas. Data information: Based on responses to the Annual Business Survey of non-financial private sector businesses. Many businesses are both exporters and importers of services.
Source: Exporters and importers by regional breakdown (ONS). Latest release (2022 data): 01 Jul 2024. Geography: The North East ITL1 area, which includes the North East and Tees Valley MCA areas. Data information: Based on responses to the Annual Business Survey of non-financial private sector businesses. Many businesses are both exporters and importers of goods.
Source: Exporters and importers by regional breakdown (ONS). Latest release (2022 data): 01 Jul 2024. Percentage calculation by North East CA. Geography: The nine English ITL1 areas, also known as regions. The North East ITL1 area includes the North East and Tees Valley MCA areas. Data information: Based on responses to the Annual Business Survey of non-financial private sector businesses. Percentage denominator is the number of non-financial private sector businesses registered for PAYE or VAT (source: ONS UK Business Count). Many businesses are both exporters and importers of goods or services.
Source: Exporters and importers by regional breakdown (ONS). Latest release (2022 data): 01 Jul 2024. Percentage calculation by North East CA. Geography: The nine English ITL1 areas, also known as regions. The North East ITL1 area includes the North East and Tees Valley MCA areas. Data information: Based on responses to the Annual Business Survey of non-financial private sector businesses. Percentage denominator is the number of non-financial private sector businesses registered for PAYE or VAT (source: ONS UK Business Count). Many businesses trade internationally in both goods and services.
Source: Regional Trade in Goods (HMRC). Latest annual data release (2024 data): 20 Mar 2025. Geography: The North East ITL1 area, which includes the North East and Tees Valley MCA areas. Data information: Statistics compiled using transaction information collected by HMRC.
Source: Regional Trade in Goods (HMRC). Latest annual data release (2024 data): 20 Mar 2025. Geography: The North East ITL1 area, which includes the North East and Tees Valley MCA areas. Data information: Statistics compiled using transaction information collected by HMRC.
Source: Regional Trade in Goods (HMRC). Latest annual data release (2024 data): 20 Mar 2025. Geography: The North East ITL1 area, which includes the North East and Tees Valley MCA areas. Data information: Statistics compiled using transaction information collected by HMRC.
The evidence hub includes two international trade reports, one each for goods and services. It also has an international trade source page which links to data reports about all aspects of this topic. The links to the source data are also included in this section:
North East trade in goods
The evidence hub page that summarises the quarterly HMRC regional trade release.
The landing page within the evidence hub that contains links to information about international trade, investment, and other ways that the North East interacts with the rest of the world.
