Poltics
- The UK’s manufacturing output was £219bn in 2021 versus France’s £210bn
- China was the world’s biggest manufacturer whereas the USA was second place
By John-Paul Ford Rojas
Printed: | Updated:
Britain’s manufacturing sector has leapfrogged France to become the eighth biggest in the world, figures confirmed yesterday.
Trade physique Make UK said the latest global data indicated this nation’s manufacturing output was price £218billion in 2021, compared with £210billion for France.
Extra latest UK figures counsel it continued to grow to £224billion last year, the agency said.
Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said: ‘I am pleased to see our world-class manufacturing sector back on the up and watch the UK catch up the global rankings.
‘This Authorities has a clear plan to grow advanced manufacturing in this nation.
Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch (pictured) said: ‘I am pleased to see our world-class manufacturing sector back on the up and watch the UK catch up the global rankings’
‘From Tata’s £4billion gigafactory announcement, to Stellantis investing £100million into Ellesmere Port, or BMW putting £600million into building electrical Minis in Oxford – this exact news reveals our plan is working.
‘We are firmly backing our industries so they have access to the funding, talent and infrastructure they need to take on the world.’
Britain had fallen behind France in 2016 amid suggestions that it was a signal of complications created by the Brexit vote.
Now nonetheless Make UK has said that with a redoubled Authorities dedication to manufacturing – to rival the strategies being rolled out in the US and EU – Britain may aim to match seventh-placed Italy.
But it cautioned that whereas the improved ranking was ‘encouraging’, it ‘cannot be attributed to any publish-Brexit soar or other particular factor’.
The figures confirmed that China was the largest manufacturing nation at £3.9trillion ahead of the US with £2trillion.
They have been followed by Japan, Germany, South Korea, India and Italy. With the UK in eighth, the top ten was achieved by France and Russia.
The figures fail to concentrate on some major global inclinations such as Russia being squeezed by sanctions, trade relations between the US and China deteriorating and a multi-billion-pound package of subsidies being rolled out in the States.
Manufacturing accounts for about 9 per cent of Britain’s GDP – dwarfed by the vast products and services sector that dominates the financial system
Manufacturing accounts for about 9 per cent of Britain’s GDP – dwarfed by the vast products and services sector that dominates the financial system.
But its factories and exports remain a potent image of the UK’s historic industrial prowess.
Manufacturing accounts for 2.6million jobs with wages on average 9 per cent increased than in the wider financial system, Make UK said.
The sector has been struggling as increased interest rates chunk. A latest month-to-month business watch advised that it shrank in August by its fastest pace since May 2020.
Nonetheless latest wins include BMW’s £600million announcement.