London Import and Export: How Goods Move In and Out of the Capital

London is known for its landmarks, culture and financial centre, but it is also an important gateway for goods moving between the UK and the rest of the world.

Every day, products arrive in the capital for shops, offices, construction projects and manufacturers. At the same time, goods made or supplied by London companies are collected and sent to customers across Europe and further afield.

While shoppers usually see only the finished product, getting it into or out of London can involve road freight, airports, seaports, warehouses and customs checks.

What goods are imported into London?

London companies import an enormous range of commercial goods. Common examples include clothing and textiles, furniture, electronic equipment, machinery, tools, packaging, printed materials and parts used by manufacturers.

The capital’s shops and online retailers depend heavily on international supply chains. A clothing company may source garments from suppliers in India or Spain, while an interior design firm may bring in furniture and fittings from workshops in Poland or Italy.

Construction and engineering companies also import machinery, replacement parts, electrical equipment and building products for projects across the city.

The best transport option depends on where the goods are coming from, how much space they require and how quickly they are needed.

What does London export?

Goods also travel in the opposite direction. London companies export fashion, specialist equipment, printed products, artwork, beauty products, technology hardware and parts for machinery.

Some exports are regular wholesale orders, while others may be samples, exhibition materials or urgent replacement components needed by an overseas customer.

Although London is often associated with services, its companies remain closely connected to the physical movement of goods. Designers, online retailers, wholesalers, engineering firms and specialist manufacturers all rely on freight services to reach customers outside the UK.

Road freight keeps London connected to Europe

For goods moving between London and European destinations, road freight is usually the most practical option.

Shipments can be collected directly from a warehouse, office, supplier or production site and delivered to the customer’s address. Depending on the size of the consignment, goods may travel as groupage, a part load or a Full Truck Load.

Groupage allows smaller consignments from several customers to share space in the same vehicle. This can help reduce transport costs when a company does not need an entire van or lorry.

Poland is an important European manufacturing and distribution market, particularly for furniture, machinery, components and manufactured products. Companies arranging freight to Poland from London can use road services for anything from a small commercial consignment to a full vehicle load.

Spain is another regular trading partner for UK companies. Businesses may import clothing, furniture, equipment and manufactured products from Spanish suppliers, as well as send British goods to customers in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and other commercial centres. When shipping goods by road freight to Spain, companies can choose between shared groupage services and dedicated vehicles based on their budget and delivery deadline.

How goods travel beyond Europe

For trade with destinations outside Europe, goods normally move by sea or air.

Sea freight is often chosen for large shipments that are less time-sensitive. A company can book a Full Container Load, known as FCL, for the exclusive use of a container. Smaller shipments can travel as Less than Container Load, or LCL, alongside goods belonging to other companies.

Air freight is generally used for smaller, urgent or higher-value commercial shipments. Goods usually travel as consolidated cargo, sharing space with other consignments on scheduled flights.

Heathrow plays a particularly important role in the movement of high-value goods. According to Heathrow’s official cargo information, around £293 billion worth of goods passed through the airport in 2025, making it the UK’s largest port by value.

A significant amount of freight also travels through seaports outside London before being moved by road to warehouses and customers across the capital. This means that even goods described as London imports may have entered the UK through ports such as Felixstowe, London Gateway, Southampton or Dover.

The importance of customs paperwork

Since the UK left the European Union, most goods moving between Great Britain and EU countries require customs declarations.

Companies generally need an EORI number and accurate information about the goods, including their value, origin and commodity code. Commercial invoices, packing lists and other documents may also be required.

Errors or missing details can lead to customs delays, additional storage charges or unexpected costs. For this reason, many companies work with a freight forwarder that can arrange the transport and provide customs clearance support through an experienced clearance partner.

Businesses should prepare their documents before collection rather than waiting until the vehicle is ready to leave. Clear descriptions are important. A description such as “equipment” may not provide enough detail, while “replacement steel components for printing machinery” gives customs teams a much clearer picture of the shipment.

Choosing the right freight service

There is no single transport method that suits every import or export.

A few pallets travelling between London and mainland Europe may be suitable for groupage road freight. A large order arriving from Asia may be better suited to sea freight, while urgent samples or replacement parts from a supplier outside Europe may need to travel by air.

Before requesting a freight quote, companies should have the following information ready:

• The collection and delivery addresses
• The number of packages or pallets
• The weight of the shipment
• The dimensions 
• A clear description of the goods
• The required collection and delivery dates

Providing accurate details helps the freight forwarder recommend a suitable vehicle, route and service.

Keeping London connected

London’s international trade is supported by a network that stretches far beyond the capital. Drivers, freight forwarders, airlines, shipping lines, ports, warehouses and customs agents all help goods complete their journeys.

For London companies, choosing the right freight service can reduce delays, control costs and prevent mistakes with customs paperwork. Whether importing furniture from Poland, sending commercial goods to Spain or bringing equipment into the UK from further afield, careful planning helps keep the capital connected to customers and suppliers around the world.