Explore Trade | Geography for Year 6 PDF Download

What is trade?

Trade refers to the buying and selling of goods and services. It is a vital way for countries to generate wealth and has been practiced globally for centuries. Nowadays, goods are transported worldwide using container ships and airplanes.

Container ships are used to transport goods all around the world.

Export and import

• In the UK, individuals and businesses can sell products to other countries, a process known as exporting. Countries may purchase goods from abroad for several reasons: they may lack the ability to produce those goods, the goods might be more affordable, or they could be of superior quality.
• Importing refers to a country purchasing goods from another nation. For instance, the UK imports fruits like bananas and oranges because they are difficult to grow locally.
• Additionally, countries sometimes require expertise from abroad, such as engineers, scientists, or teachers. These professionals provide their expertise globally, contributing to what is known as the service industry.
• Currently, the service industry is the UK’s primary economic sector. The UK imports more goods than it exports.

Important trade relationships

The UK's primary trading partners include the United States, Germany, and China.

Key UK exports include:

• Cars
• Medicines
• Aircraft parts
• Gold
• Financial services

Key UK imports include:

• Crude oil and gas from Norway, the USA, and the Middle East
• Clothing from China
• Computers from China
• Cars from Germany
• Fruit from Spain
• Fish from Iceland

What happens at ports?

Goods for trade are transported by road, sea, air, or river. A significant amount of trade involves moving goods across seas and oceans in large containers, which are loaded and unloaded at ports.