United Kingdom – Houston’s #10 Trade Partner in ‘15
Over 7,500 U.S. firms have a presence in the U.K., which is also a prime location in Europe
for U.S. regional headquarters covering Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The U.K.
market is highly diversified and is second largest market in the world for U.S. service
exports. The U.S. Department of Commerce has identified the U.K. as a prime market for
U.S. exports of agriculture equipment, cloud computing, medical equipment, and nuclear
power technologies.

Brief on United Kingdom’s Global Position
GDP (’15)

$2.9
trillion

#5
Growth
Rate

2.5%
(IMF)

Pop (’15)
Growth
Rate

64,088,22
2

0.5%

(CIA)

Exports
(’15)

$442 billion

Manufactured goods, fuels,
chemicals, food, tobacco,
beverages

Imports (’15)

$617.1
billion

Manufactured goods,
machinery, fuels,
foodstuffs

Houston’s Business Ties


146 U.K. firms operate at 244 subsidiary locations in the Houston area; 64 Houston firms
have 197 subsidiary locations throughout the United Kingdom.



Houston firms with significant operations in the U.K. include, but are not limited to:
American Bureau of shipping (ABS), BMC Software, ConocoPhillips, KBR, Noble Energy,
and Oceaneering International.



U.K. firms with major operations in Houston include, but are not limited to: BP, Direct
Energy, EV Offshore, Intertek, Mustang Engineering and Lloyds Register.



Of the 19 foreign banks represented in Houston, two are from the U.K.: Bank of Scotland
PLC and Standard Chartered Bank.



The Consulate General of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and
the British-American Business Council facilitate trade and other relationships in Houston.



British Airways and United Airlines offers five daily non-stop flights from Houston to the
United Kingdom.

Trade
Trade between Houston and the U.K. has declined since ‘05. A decrease in the value of
traded mineral fuels and oil and industrial machinery accounted for the majority of the
decline. From ’05 to ’15 trade between Houston and the U.K. has decreased slightly.

Greater Houston Partnership Research

Updated March 2, 2016

 Total Trade, $ Value, Houston and United Kingdom
8,000,000,000
7,000,000,000
6,000,000,000
5,000,000,000
4,000,000,000
3,000,000,000
2,000,000,000
1,000,000,000
0

EXPORTS

'05

'06

'07

IMPORTS

'08

'09

'10

'11

'12

'13

'14

'15

Source: WISERTrade from US Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division data

Ran
k

EXPORTS TO UNITED KINGDOM via HOUSTON-GALVESTON
CUSTOMS $DISTRICT
%
Value, Millions
Commodity

’14

’15

% of
Total
’15

Change
’14 –
’15

6

Mineral Fuels, Refined Products,
Oils, Waxes
Industrial Machinery, Computers
Electrical Machinery, Equipment
and Parts
Optic, Photographic, Measuring,
Medical and Surgical Instruments
Aircraft, Spacecraft and Parts
Thereof
Plastics and Plastic Articles

7

Miscellaneous Chemical Products

93.5

73.5

2.5

-21.4

8

Organic Chemicals

76.3

68.6

2.3

-10.1

9

Articles of Iron or Steel
Essential Oils, Perfumery,
Cosmetic Preps

87.6

68.5

2.3

-21.8

76.4

62.6

2.1

-18.0

2,680.0

2,479.8

84.5

-7.5

607.9

453.3

15.5

-25.6

3,287.9

2,933.0

100.0

-10.8

1
2
3
4
5

10

Total Top 10 Commodities
All Other Commodities
TOTAL - ALL COMMODITIES

892.1

887.0

30.2

-0.6

825.3

748.3

25.5

-9.3

211.1

235.6

8.0

11.6

187.6

136.0

4.6

-27.7

151.1

110.3

3.8

-27.0

79.1

90.0

3.1

13.8

Source: WISERTrade from US Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division data

IMPORTS FROM UNITED KINGDOM via HOUSTON-GALVESTON
CUSTOMS $DISTRICT
%
Value, Millions

Ran
k

Commodity

2

Industrial Machinery and
Computers
Motor Vehicles and Parts

3

Articles of Iron or Steel

1

Greater Houston Partnership Research

’14

’15

% of
Total
’15

Change
’14 –
’15

830.2

689.5

27.3

-16.9

269.4

287.3

11.4

6.6

144.8

168.5

6.7

16.3

Updated March 2, 2016

 4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Optic, Photographic, Measuring,
Medical and Surgical Instruments
Miscellaneous Industrial
Components, Equipment and
Parts
Beverages, Spirits, and Vinegar
Mineral Fuels, Refined Products,
Oils, Waxes
Organic Chemicals
Miscellaneous Chemical Products
Electric Machinery, Equipment
and Parts
Total Top 10 Commodities
All Other Commodities
TOTAL - ALL COMMODITIES

170.9

166.2

6.6

-2.8

174.8

165.8

6.6

-5.1

116.8

146.8

5.8

25.7

430.9

132.8

5.3

-69.1

167.6

124.5

4.9

-25.7

90.2

112.4

4.5

24.7

127.1

97.6

3.9

-23.2

2,522.6

2,091.3

83.0

-17.1

528.1

432.3

17.0

-18.1

3.050.7

2,523.6

100.0

-17.3

Source: WISERTrade from US Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division data

Greater Houston Partnership Research

Updated March 2, 2016