DCMS and digital sector economic estimates: Trade, 2021
Official statistics estimating the contribution of DCMS sectors and the digital sector to the UK economy, measured by imports and exports of services and goods.
Documents
Details
Headline findings
In included DCMS sectors in 2021:
Goods: Exports were greater than imports, unlike the UK economy as a whole. Compared to 2019 (pre-pandemic), trade in goods accounted for a lower proportion of total UK trade in goods.
Services: Exports were greater than imports, like the UK economy as a whole. Compared to 2019 (pre-pandemic), trade in services accounted for a higher proportion of total UK trade in services.
The creative industries sector contributed the most to the value of goods and services imported and exported.
Tourism: UK residents spent more overseas (imports) than overseas visitors spent in the UK (exports).
In the digital sector in 2021:
Goods: Exports were lower than imports, like the UK economy as a whole. Compared to 2019 (pre-pandemic), trade in goods accounted for a lower proportion of total UK trade in goods.
Services: Exports were greater than imports, like the UK economy as a whole. Compared to 2019 (pre-pandemic), trade in services accounted for a higher proportion of total UK trade in services.
Revision note:
On 18 August 2023, the DCMS sectors economic estimates: Trade, 2021 main report was revised, after an error was identified in the commentary. Section 4.1 of the report stated that “Exports of services in the creative industries are driven by businesses in the Film, TV, video, radio and music subsector”. This has been corrected to “Exports of services in the creative industries are driven by businesses in the IT, software and computer services subsector”.
Data included in the rest of the report and in the accompanying data tables is not affected by this change.
10 November 2023: We have identified an error in the DCMS and digital sector Economic Estimates: Trade in Services data tables. These tables have been re-published with a reduced breakdown for 2021 only while we investigate this error further. Trade in goods and Trade in tourism tables are unaffected by this change.
14 March 2024: Following the identification of an error, the DCMS trade in services tables have been re-published with breakdowns for 2021, including both sectors and subsectors. The DCMS trade in services tables will be further updated to include revised 2020 data (which were withdrawn on 24 November 2023) and a time series from 2016 with updated DCMS totals, reflecting DCMS policy responsibility post-Machinery of Government changes. Digital sector trade in services tables for 2020 and 2021 will also be revised, once corrected. Trade in goods and Trade in tourism tables are unaffected by this change.
24 May 2024: The DCMS and digital sector trade in services tables have been further updated and re-published to include revised 2021 and 2020 data (which were withdrawn on 24 November 2023). Alongside, we have published a time series from 2016 with updated DCMS totals (to separate the digital sector following the Machinery of Government change). Trade in goods and Trade in tourism tables are unaffected by this change.
The DCMS sectors Economic Estimates Trade 2021 main report has also been revised after an error was identified with the sport sector net balance in Figure 2.
27 June 2024: The DCMS sectors Economic Estimates Trade 2021 main report has been revised after an error was identified with the sport sector net balance in Figure 7.
About
These economic estimates are official statistics used to provide an estimate of the contribution of DCMS sectors and the digital sector to the UK economy, measured by imports and exports of goods and services. Trade in tourism is estimated by spending by overseas residents in the UK and spending by UK residents overseas as proxy measurements for exports and imports.
Content
These statistics cover the contributions of the following sectors to the UK economy.
DCMS sectors:
- creative industries
- cultural sector
- gambling (services only)
- sport
- tourism (covered on a separate basis to the other sectors)
Users should note that there is overlap between DCMS sector definitions and that several cultural sector industries are simultaneously creative industries.
Estimates of civil society imports and exports are not available at present, due to a lack of suitable data.
The release also includes estimates for the audio visual sector. These do not form part of the DCMS total.
A definition for each sector is available in the tables published alongside this release. Further information on DCMS sectors is available in the associated technical report along with details of methods and data limitations.
Digital sector:
- digital sector
- telecoms (services only)
Users should note that there is overlap between these two sectors’ definitions in that the Telecoms sector sits wholly within the digital sector.
Estimates are published here separately for the digital sector (including the telecoms sector) as responsibility for these policy areas now sits with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Released
These statistics were first published on 3 August 2023.
Feedback
DCMS aims to continuously improve the quality of estimates and better meet user needs. DCMS welcomes feedback on this release. Feedback should be sent to DCMS via email at [email protected].
The UK Statistics Authority
This release is published in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics (2018) produced by the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA). The UKSA has the overall objective of promoting and safeguarding the production and publication of official statistics that serve the public good. It monitors and reports on all official statistics, and promotes good practice in this area.
Pre-release access
The accompanying pre-release access document lists ministers and officials who have received privileged early access to this release. In line with best practice, the list has been kept to a minimum and those given access for briefing purposes had a maximum of 24 hours.
Contact
Responsible analysts: Eri Hutchinson and Zoe Kimber
For any queries or feedback, please contact [email protected].
Updates to this page
Published 3 August 2023Last updated 6 August 2024 + show all updates
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Re-added figure 9 and 10 as they were not displaying correctly in the DCMS trade report.
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The DCMS and digital sector trade in services tables have been further updated and re-published to include revised 2021 and 2020 data (which were withdrawn on 24 November 2023). Alongside, we have published a time series from 2016 with updated DCMS totals (to separate the digital sector following the Machinery of Government change). Trade in goods and Trade in tourism tables are unaffected by this change. The DCMS sectors Economic Estimates Trade 2021 main report has also been revised after an error was identified with the sport sector net balance in Figure 2.
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Re-publishing of data tables for DCMS and digital sector Economic Estimates: Trade in Services in 2021 to include subsectoral breakdowns for DCMS sectors.
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On 10 November, an error was spotted in the DCMS and digital sector Economic Estimates: Trade in Services data tables. These tables have been re-published with a reduced breakdown for 2021 only while we investigate this error further. Trade in goods and Trade in tourism tables are unaffected by this change.
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On 18 August 2023, the DCMS sectors economic estimates: Trade, 2021 main report was revised, after an error was identified in the commentary. Section 4.1 of the report stated that “Exports of services in the creative industries are driven by businesses in the Film, TV, video, radio and music subsector”. This has been corrected to “Exports of services in the creative industries are driven by businesses in the IT, software and computer services subsector”.
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First published.