British exports to the US were worth £168.3bn last year, up 19% on 2021 and far exceeding the £110.8bn-worth of US imports Brits bought last year. The international delivery expert ParcelHero says fashion, car parts, collectables and vinyls are big favourites in the US.

Remember Cool Britannia? British products are enjoying another renaissance in the USA, says the UK-based US delivery specialist ParcelHero. Not only were last year’s UK exports of goods and services to the USA up by £26.9bn on 2021, but American consumers are buying considerably more British goods than Brits are buying American.

According to the latest Government figures, total UK exports to the US amounted to £168.3bn in 2022 – an increase of 19% over 2021 and noticeably more than the amount of goods and services Brits bought from the US (£110.8bn).

Officially, it’s heavy machinery (including nuclear boilers), vehicles, pharmaceuticals, optical & medical equipment and electronics topping the charts of UK exports to the US. However, ParcelHero says Britain’s smaller manufacturers and exporters are enjoying their own sales boom, and the hottest-selling products conjure memories of Cool Britannia at its coolest. Fashion, car parts, hobby & collectable products and vinyl records are being snapped up by American shoppers.

ParcelHero’s Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T., says: ‘Whether it’s down to the Coronation effect, or just the low price of UK products following the slump of the pound against the dollar, it looks like US buyers have fallen in love again with British-made goods. Looking at ParcelHero’s own figures for last month, women’s clothing was the largest category, with UK sellers enjoying considerable US sales. That makes sense as British fashion and clothing exports to the USA were worth around $338m last year.

‘It’s also unsurprising to see car parts in ParcelHero’s US Top 5 last month, as Americans have fallen back in love with British vehicles, particularly 4x4s and sports cars. That’s why British exports of vehicles to the US totalled $8.69bn (£6.82bn) last year. Manufacturers and retailers using ParcelHero shipped hundreds of parts for modern vehicles and classic British cars. It wasn’t just cars; ParcelHero also delivered many motorbike parts to America, again for both current and classic bikes.

‘ParcelHero also couriered thousands of hobby products to the US in June. These included model cars and aircraft, coins and stamps, fishing rods, trading cards, guitars and other musical instruments, golf clubs, replica film props, books, antiques and even ceremonial swords. This makes sense as the UK exported $2.26bn-worth (£1.77bn) of collectables and antiques to the USA last year, as well as $714m (£560m) of books, $350m (£274m) of toys and games, $116m (£90m) of clocks and watches and $30m (£23m) of musical instruments and accessories.

‘Finally, vinyl records are also topping the charts. It’s astonishing to see the hundreds of vinyls ParcelHero delivered across the US last month. These look to be a mix of older, collectable LPs and singles and brand-new vinyls, with the majority being new. British music was at the heart of the 1960s-inspired Cool Britannia boom of the noughties and, judging by vinyl sales, it’s enjoying a renaissance today.

‘Imagine the opportunities the US will offer UK exporters if that elusive UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is ever reached. Credit where it’s due, Prime Minister Sunak did recently sign an “Atlantic Declaration” that could help UK companies selling green tech, such as car batteries, to the US. Significant hurdles in US trade remain, however. Most UK goods exported to the US that are valued at over $800 (the US import tax threshold) are still subject to tariffs of 0% to 37.5%, with the typical rate being 5.63%. ParcelHero’s USA page gives full details on Customs advice, sending food, prohibited items, etc.