the UK holds a massive trade deficit with the rest of the world, second only to the US. In 2012, UK imports were worth $646 billion with exports valued at only $481 billion.
In recent years, the UK has run the largest trade deficits with Norway, Germany, China, Hong Kong and Netherlands. This is mainly due to increase in demand of consumer goods, a drop in UK manufacturing and a decline in local oil and gas production.
http://www.economywatch.com/world_ec...rt-import.html