- Fewer than one fifth (18%)
of micro-exporters (fewer than 10 employees) increased export
ordersin Q2, with 29% reporting a decrease.
- By comparison, 29% of large
exporters (more than 250 staff) increased their export orders
with a fifth (20%) reporting a drop.
- More than a quarter (27%) of
all SME exporters surveyed reported a decrease in export
orders
- Just over half (51%) said
they saw no change in their export orders, and 22% an
increase
The Trade Confidence Outlook, conducted by the BCC's
award-winning Insights Unit, is a survey of just over 2,000 UK
exporters.
The data was collected between 12 May and 9 June, after a narrow
trade deal with the US was agreed but before any changes came
into effect. The EU reset deal was also announced during this
time, on May 19, but again any alterations had yet to
happen.
The research shows that SME exporter sentiment remains very weak,
with most not reporting increased export sales or orders.
However, micro firms are more likely to be reporting worsening
conditions.
Overall, 24% of SME exporters reported
an increase in export sales, 50% no change, and 26% a decrease.
By contrast, only 20% of micro exporters reported an
increase.
Looking at export orders – sales yet
to be made – 22% of SME exporters reported an increase, 51%
reported no change and 27% reported a decrease. By contrast, only
18% of micro exporters reported an increase and 29% reported a
decrease.
SME exporters are consistently more
likely to report decreased exports compared to before the
pandemic and Brexit. In
Q2 2018, only 14% of SME exporters reported a decrease in
overseas sales compared to 26% in Q2
2025.
The View From
Business
Tariffs on exports to the USA are a
concern. At the moment they are 10% on our products. Should they
be any higher it could be a serious
problem.
Micro manufacturing firm in
Scotland
The impact of tariffs on material
prices are not yet understood, as there is not a sustained period
of consistency.
Medium construction firm in
the East Midlands
In relation to Trump and all the
tariff issues, this will affect our pricing and shipping on a
global scale with the
uncertainty.
Small services firm in the
South-East
Tariffs are causing uncertainty with
our automotive customers, which prevents or delays new programs
of work.
Medium construction firm in
the East of England
, Head of Trade Policy at the
BCC, said:
“Exporting remains an uphill grind for
many SMEs and the smallest firms are finding it toughest of
all.
“Smaller, innovative, agile businesses
should be able to export in a streamlined way, especially by
taking advantage of e-commerce platforms. But in practice it is
larger firms who seem able to more easily navigate the challenges
and complexities of international
trade.
“If the UK wants to boost exports for
the long-term, then our overseas traders will require additional
support and the right finance and advice to develop their order
books.
“The trade strategy sets out a strong
framework for how this can be done but we must now move at pace
to turn it from the page into
practice.
“Over 40 per cent of Chamber members
export due to the framework of support placed around them. This
level of advice, training and guidance needs to be replicated
across the UK.
“If
the trade strategy is effectively executed, then it could
generate economic growth in every nation and region of the UK,
lowering tariffs and removing trade
barriers.
“But the hard work has to start now.
The government must work with businesses and Chambers to deliver
the strategy's action points. This means leveraging the
expertise, resource and place-based knowledge of our Global
British Chamber Network to build, invest and deliver on
international trade as an engine for economic
growth.”
