Adapting to complexity: how UK manufacturers are navigating global trade

Global trade has rarely stood still, but the pace of change facing manufacturers today is particularly pronounced. Shifting tariffs, evolving customs requirements and wider geopolitical uncertainty are creating new layers of complexity for exporters. For many businesses, the challenge is no longer simply finding demand overseas but navigating the practical realities of getting goods across borders quickly, reliably and cost-effectively.

 

Yet our latest research with Make UK shows that UK businesses aren’t in retreat, they’re focused on resilience and recalibration.

 

Eight in ten UK manufacturers remain confident in the UK’s overall trade prospects, and 85 per cent actively emphasise the “Britishness” of their products and heritage when selling overseas. In uncertain markets, trust, quality and reputation continue to open doors and differentiate British exporters.

 

At the same time, trading conditions are becoming more demanding, particularly in major markets such as the US. Six in ten manufacturers still export there, but tariff-related costs are biting, with one in four reporting balance sheet losses linked to added charges.

 

Rather than stepping back, businesses are responding pragmatically, reassessing risk, adjusting volumes and looking for new routes to growth. One in four say they accelerated exports to the US in the early months of 2025 to try to beat anticipated tariff increases. Nearly a quarter have shifted export focus towards non-US markets, spreading exposure and building more balanced international portfolios.

 

Beyond any single geography, exporters are also contending with everyday operational friction. 58 per cent of manufacturers identified tariffs and trade rules as a major obstacle to exporting. These delays add cost and unpredictability, particularly for companies running lean or just-in-time supply chains. Even small holdups at the border can have knock-on effects across production, inventory and customer service. Success in today’s environment therefore depends not just on demand, but on execution.

 

That’s where the right support becomes critical. At DHL Express, we work with thousands of manufacturers moving goods into more than 220 countries and territories, and we see firsthand how the combination of customs expertise, end-to-end shipment visibility and flexible routing can turn complexity into confidence. Increasingly, exporters are looking for partners who can simplify processes, anticipate regulatory change and keep supply chains flowing, not simply provide transportation.

 

Demand for high-quality UK manufacturing remains strong around the world. With the right insight, infrastructure and trusted logistics support in place, British exporters are well positioned not just to navigate today’s challenges, but to compete and grow through them.