Almost 64% of eBay’s UK-based sellers have exported products internationally in past 12 months.
eBay has released new data highlighting the contribution of UK small and medium sized businesses to UK exports.
The data – which is drawn from the 200,000 UK-based SMEs trading on eBay – shows that in the past 12 months, almost two thirds (64%) of eBay’s UK-based sellers have exported products internationally – and export sales have grown more than 25% in the past five years.
The top three export markets for UK SME sellers on eBay – which are connected to millions of buyers in more than 190 countries – are the US, Germany and France, while Ireland, Italy and Australia also make it into the top ten in terms of money spent.
Products generating the highest spend vary from territory to territory. For example, some of the more unique popular UK products exported internationally from the UK include weed killer to France, Warhammer games to Australia, and CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays to the Philippines, which is the country that has seen the biggest growth in export sales from eBay UK in the past 12 months, with exports growing at over 20% year on year.
eBay is now calling for the voices of these entrepreneurial exporters to be heard in debates over future trade deals and for small business to be fully represented in any post-Brexit trade delegations.
“The debate about business in Britain has often ignored the contribution of UK small businesses to international trade,” said Rob Hattrell, vp of eBay UK. “When it comes to the big issues like Brexit, trade deals, and Britain’s economic future, small businesses, which are the lifeblood of the economy, should have a far greater voice.
“The reason we’re publishing this data is to show there are small businesses up and down the UK working hard, day in day out, to grow and build their businesses. Through eBay, many have become international exporters for the first time and been able to access new markets. It’s high time the voices of these entrepreneurs are heard.”
Top ten SME export markets in terms of money spent are:
- US
- Germany
- France
- Italy
- Ireland
- Australia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Norway
- Netherlands
Top five product categories exported globally from UK SMEs via eBay are:
- Mobile and smartphones
- Wristwatches
- Laptops and netbooks
- Music/records
- Trainers
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