Britain’s factories benefited from a surge in sales to the EU in the first half of this year as export growth outstripped import growth.
The UK still imports far more than it exports leaving the country with a goods deficit amounting to €53bn (£48bn) for the six months to June in its trade with the EU, but that is down from €57.8bn in the same period of 2016.
A weaker pound means
British-made goods are more competitive abroad, while imports are more expensive to UK companies and consumers.
Britain exports €104bn of goods to the rest of the world, outweighing the €94.7bn of goods it sends to EU customers. But UK imports from the EU amount to €147.7bn, while those from elsewhere come in at €134.7bn.
The UK's total trade deficit has shrunk from €102.2bn in the first half of 2016 to €83.7bn this year.