EXPLAINED

What goods are the UK and Israel trading amid the genocide in Gaza?

Hundreds of shipping containers at the Grangemouth Terminal near Falkirk <i>(Image: PA)</i>
Hundreds of shipping containers at the Grangemouth Terminal near Falkirk (Image: PA)
This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald.

THE UK’s trade with Israel has increased during the genocide in Gaza – but what goods are the two countries exchanging the most?

We told how overall trade in goods and services between the UK and Israel increased by 3.7%, or £218 million, to £6.2 billion in 2024-25.

The figure was revealed in a Department of Business and Trade (DBT) fact sheet published on the Government’s website, updated on Friday October 31.

READ MORE: Boycott call as UK trade with Israel increased during Gaza genocide

Here are the key goods and services that the two countries trade with each other.

Between June 2024 and June 2024, the top five goods exported from the UK to Israel were:

  • Medicinal and pharmaceutical products – £284.5m
  • Cars – £191.1m
  • Mechanical power generators – £148.8m
  • Beverages and tobacco – £70.7m
  • Railway equipment (capital) – £68.7m.

The top five goods imports from Israel to the UK were:

  • Mineral manufactures – £119.4m
  • Vegetables and fruit – £116.6m
  • Plastics in primary forms – £60.5m
  • Toilet and cleansing preparations – £58.9m
  • Scientific instruments (capital) – £56.9m

READ MORE: Guy Verhofstadt call for moderate parties to unite against far right a 'wake-up call'

The report also showed the types of services exported from the UK to Israel, which accounted for a higher percentage of trade than goods, and imports from Israel.

The top five services exported were:

  • Other business services – £533m
  • Financial – £377m
  • Travel – £376m
  • Telecommunications, computer and information services – £229m
  • Insurance and pension – £201m

The top five services imported from Israel were:

  • Other business services - £428m
  • Telecommunications, computer and information services – £337m
  • Travel – £201m
  • Transportation – £96m
  • Government – £84m

Get involved
with the news

Send your news & photos