East Midlands Airport - a world trade centre at the heart of Britain
The top trading nations connected to the UK via East Midlands Airport can be revealed as International Trade Week gets underway.
Data from last year reveals that more than £28bn of goods passed through East Midlands Airport - underlining its strength as one of the UK's most important international trade gateways connecting British businesses to customers, suppliers and markets across the world.
The HMRC figures show the United States is the country trading the most, in terms of the value of goods, through East Midlands Airport. More than £3bn of goods were imported and £2.6bn were exported between the US and the UK via the unrivalled cargo hub at the heart of the country.
Perhaps surprisingly the second highest importer was the Netherlands, at £2.3bn of goods, followed by Germany at £1.8bn. The two European countries exported £700,000 and £1.4bn respectively.
Europe remains the largest trading area putting goods through East Midlands Airport, accounting for more than half of the total value of trade, at £16bn - £9bn in imports and £7bn in exports.
Despite the growing number of cargo airlines which have set up routes between China and East Midlands over the last year - with the latest touching down for its first flight only last week – the rising economic powerhouse comes in only fourth place of the import rankings with just over £884,000 and eighth for exports at £377,000.
HMRC data also reveals some of the types of goods that East Midlands Airport handles. It includes a massive range of things, from aircraft parts, prosthetic body parts, cars and car parts to water skis, farming equipment, clothing, toys and smartphones.
East Midlands Airport’s Commercial Director Adam Andrews said: “With around £28bn worth of goods passing through the airport annually, East Midlands Airport is far more than a regional transport hub. It is a world trade centre, connecting businesses across Britain to the global economy and helping drive economic growth in the Midlands and across the UK.
“We have the infrastructure, perfect central location, expertise and ambition to do much more. We want to strengthen Britain's connections with the global economy and ensure the East Midlands plays an increasingly important role in the future of seamless international trade."
East Midlands Airport has recently been represented at major international air cargo forums to promote the airport’s unique proposition among operators from around the globe. This comes ahead of the appointment of a new Head of Cargo Development to drive forward the proposed expansion and diversification of East Midlands’ cargo capabilities.
Recent growth has strengthened the airport's connections with major global trading markets – especially the growing Chinese economy through seven new cargo operators including a fresh arrival last week - opening up further opportunities for British importers and exporters. In 2025, the airport handled more than 400,000 tonnes of cargo, representing growth of 12.5% on the previous year. It accounted for around 36% of the UK's growth in air cargo volumes, underlining its increasing importance to the country's international trading infrastructure.
The airport's wider economic contribution is equally significant, supporting 52,000 jobs and generating an estimated £6.2bn in gross value added for the UK economy. And East Midlands has plans to build on this success, with a cargo growth plan to attract new international cargo operators, develop its cargo infrastructure and unlock investment in the surrounding logistics and industrial economy.