HC Deb 16 January 1992 vol 201 cc620-1W
Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the United Kingdom's share of world trade, taking visibles and invisibles together, for each of the last 15 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Sainsbury

In terms of the value of overseas transactions, the United Kingdom is the fourth largest trading nation in the world.

The information is in the table.

United Kingdom's share of OECD total trade1 1975–90
(percentage terms)
Year Exports Imports
1975 9.5 10.0
1976 9.1 9.1
1977 9.3 9.1
1978 9.5 9.3
1979 10.3 10.0
1980 11.3 10.4
1981 11.6 10.6
1982 11.7 11.1

Year Exports Imports
1983 11.0 10.5
1984 10.6 10.2
1985 10.8 10.2
1986 10.0 9.9
1987 10.1 10.0
1988 10.0 10.7
1989 10.0 10.7
1990 10.3 11.1
1 Visible and invisible trade.

Source: IMF Balance of Payments Statistics.