Data from fieldwork completed across 2025: Insights into UK export behaviours and attitudes

This post presents a preview of the forthcoming publication on UK registered businesses and their engagement with exporting. The publication will assemble data tables, a written analytical report, and a technical report to provide a comprehensive view of how UK firms behave, think, and plan around international trade.

Overview
Between January and December 2025, fieldwork was conducted with a representative sample of UK-registered businesses across sectors, sizes, and regions. The aim was to capture the diversity of exporting activity, the barriers and motivators at play, and the evolving strategic approaches firms deploy to access international markets. The data reflects both overt actions (export volumes, destinations, channels) and attitudes (risk perception, confidence, perceived support, and strategic priorities).

Key data themes
– Export incidence and intensity: The baseline proportion of firms engaged in exporting, average export share of total turnover, and trends by sector and firm size.
– Market prioritisation: Destination markets most frequently targeted, with insights into regional preferences (EU vs non-EU, near markets, high-growth economies) and the role of trade agreements.
– Channels and modes: Methods used to sell internationally (direct sales, distributors, e-commerce platforms, representation), and associated cost and risk considerations.
– Product readiness and adaptation: Extent of product or service adaptation for international markets, including regulatory compliance, packaging, and localisation efforts.
– Export barriers and enablers: The most commonly cited obstacles (regulatory complexity, currency risk, logistics, access to finance) and the range of enablers (government support, export finance, market intelligence, networks).
– Capability and preparedness: Firms’ confidence in export readiness, access to skills and training, and the role of digital tools, data analytics, and CRM systems in supporting export activity.
– Support and expectations: Perceptions of public sector and private sector support, and the expected impact of policy changes on exporting behaviour.

Representative findings (illustrative)
– Exporting reach: A substantial minority of UK businesses participate in exporting, with higher shares observed in certain sectors (manufacturing, food and drink, technology) and larger firms. Small and micro firms show growing engagement, often through niche markets or online channels.
– Market diverges by region and sector: West and East of England, Scotland, and the North West display distinct export patterns, shaped by sector concentration and regional trade links. Services firms lean towards proximity markets and digital services exports, while manufacturers pursue diversified destinations.
– Channel strategy: Direct-to-customer online platforms are increasingly relevant for small firms, supplemented by distributors for regional coverage. Traditional export channels remain important for larger firms with established international networks.
– Readiness and adaptation: Many firms report modest product adaptation for foreign markets, with higher readiness in industries subject to stringent international standards. Regulatory burden and documentation requirements persist as notable friction points.
– Barriers and policy impact: Regulatory complexity, currency volatility, and access to finance repeatedly surface as top concerns. Firms express appetite for streamlined export procedures, better market intelligence, and targeted financial instruments.
– Capability build-out: Investment in digital tools, market research, and staff training correlates with higher export activity. Collaborative ecosystems—industry associations, chambers of commerce, and regional trade bodies—are valuable in reducing entry barriers.

Data structure and publication plan
The forthcoming publication will present three interconnected components:
– Data tables: A comprehensive suite of quantitative tables detailing export activity by sector, firm size, region, and destination market. Tables will include measures such as export intensity, growth rates, and capability indicators.
– Written analytical report: An interpretation of the data, exploring causal relationships, identifying patterns, and outlining implications for businesses and policymakers. The narrative will connect empirical findings to strategic considerations for export growth.
– Technical report: Detailed methodology, including sampling design, survey instruments, weighting schemes, and data quality checks. This section will provide transparency and reproducibility for researchers and practitioners.

Analytical priorities
– Benchmarking progress: Establish baselines for exporting across industries and regions, with year-over-year comparisons where available.
– Understanding barriers: Map the most persistent friction points and assess how they vary by firm characteristic.
– Strategic avenues: Identify opportunities for firms to scale exports through channels, markets, and digital capabilities.
– Policy implications: Translate findings into actionable recommendations for support programmes, information services, and financial instruments aimed at boosting exporting activity.

What to expect in the full publication
– A user-friendly data appendix featuring clearly labelled tables with definitions, units, and footnotes.
– A narrative synthesis that bridges numerical findings with real-world business implications.
– A technical appendix detailing the sampling frame, data collection methods, weighting procedures, and reliability assessments.

If you are involved in policy design, business development, or trade support services, this publication will offer you a data-driven lens on how UK registered businesses engage with exporting in 2025. It will help inform strategies to reduce barriers, enhance capability, and foster stronger links between UK firms and international markets.

Stay tuned for the release, which will provide the data tables, the analytical discourse, and the technical foundations to support robust, evidence-informed decisions in the exporting landscape.

July 21, 2026 at 03:08PM
官方统计：注册企业的出口行为、态度与需求全国调查2025
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/national-survey-of-registered-businesses-exporting-behaviours-attitudes-and-needs-2025
数据字段调查在2025年完成。发布内容将包括数据表、书面分析报告和技术报告。数据提供有关英国注册企业在出口方面的行为与态度的见解。

阅读更多中文内容： 英国注册企业在出口行为与态度上的发现：基于2025年野外工作数据的综合分析