UK trade gap narrows but set to soar to ‘enormous proportions’, experts warn

Britain’s trade gap narrowed to a better-than-expected £7.8 billion in July, but experts warned it will surge to “enormous proportions” later this year as fuel prices soar higher due to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the UK’s total trade deficit in July eased back from £11.4 billion in June.

The figures showed imports of fuels hit a new record high as the Russian war continues to wreak havoc on oil and gas markets, reaching more than £11 billion.

This accounts for a record 21% of all goods imported.

In the three months to July, the UK trade deficit, excluding precious metals, widened by £1.2 billion to £27 billion compared with the three months to April 2022, according to the ONS.

But economists at Pantheon Macroeconomics said that, despite the drop in July, Britain’s trade deficit remains “massive by past standards” because of a surge in imports due to high energy prices.

The trade in fuels deficit – which includes oil, natural gas and other fuels – increased to £5.6 billion in July, from £5.1 billion in June.

Gabriella Dickens, at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said: “The trade deficit will reach enormous proportions over the coming months.

“For starters, futures prices suggest that the monthly trade deficit in natural gas, contained within the fuels component, will increase to about £8 billion by the end of this year, from £1.8 billion in July.

“In addition, past experience suggests that sterling’s recent depreciation initially will boost the value of imports more than exports.

“Furthermore, exports likely will continue to struggle as external demand in key trading partners softens and Brexit frictions remain in place.”

Ms Dickens is forecasting the trade deficit to grow to a record 7.5% of gross domestic product in the final three months of 2022, up from 4.7% in the second quarter.