What are we still making in the UK?
According to data gathered by several sources, we still sell quite a bit. However, last year car sales in the UK declined steeply (4.4%), amounting to the worst figures since 1994. Increased fuel duties, VAT and the recession were to blame. But while UK sales flagged, exports were good and manufacturers such as Toyota, Land Rover and Nissan expect to see a 5% growth next year.
Right at the top of the manufacturing pile, according to HM Revenue and Customs, we have nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances (including parts), followed by minerals and oils, and, finally, vehicles. But we are still importing more vehicles than we export (£23bn out, as opposed to £32bn in). As for trading partners, the USA are at the very top, with £32bn of exports, followed by Germany and France, while for imports our top trading partner in 2011 was Germany, with the UK buying a staggering £42bn of goods from this country.