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PRIVACY
Economic Development

South West trade with EU on rise despite Brexit uncertainty, ONS data reveals

The region has also seen increasing trade with non-EU countries

A Union flag and EU flag (Image: PA)

The South West is increasingly trading in goods with the EU despite Brexit uncertainty.

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show in 2018, the region traded £20.5billion worth of goods with EU countries - up on the £20.2billion in 2017 and £18.6billion in 2016.

Of the goods traded with the EU, £10.8billion were imports, while £9.7billion were exports.

The South West has also seen increasing trade with non-EU countries.

The value of goods traded rose from £22.7billion in 2016 to £25.0billion in 2017 and to £25.2billion in 2018.

However, the increase in trade with non-EU countries was 11 per cent since 2016, compared to a 10 per cent increase in trade with EU countries.

Nationally, the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ traded £433.0bn worth of goods with EU countries in 2018, making up 53 per cent of trade in goods.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson waves from the door of Number 10(Image: 2019 Getty Images)

Of this, £170.0billion was in exports - half of the total value of goods exported last year - and £263.0billion was imports.