• DATA
  • MATH
  • TRENDS
  • HUMAN

How to analyze UK trade balances with your AI

Connect to the ONS data once. After that, your AI handles the heavy lifting of pulling specific trade figures and running the math.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I use AI to calculate UK trade balances?

Your AI uses the get_trade tool to pull monthly import and export data for specific countries or commodities. It then calculates the difference to show you the exact trade surplus or deficit. You'll get a clear breakdown of the numbers for any category you request.

The results you get

What your analysis produces

The AI turns raw ONS numbers into clear trade insights.

DATA

Specific trade figures

The AI pulls precise import and export values for any commodity or country you name. You get the raw numbers without searching through spreadsheets.

MATH

Calculated trade balances

Your agent subtracts imports from exports to find the surplus or deficit. It handles the arithmetic so you don't have to.

TRENDS

Monthly movement tracking

By pulling data across multiple months, your AI identifies if a trade gap is widening or closing. This helps you spot shifts in trade patterns.

HUMAN

Strategic interpretation

The AI provides the numbers and the math, but you decide what the trade deficit means for your business or policy decisions.

The workflow

What your AI does when the data arrives.

The AI acts as a bridge between the ONS database and your chat interface.

  1. Fetch trade data

    The AI queries the ONS database for specific monthly figures based on your request.

    get_trade

  2. Filter by category

    It narrows down the results to the exact country or commodity you are interested in.

    get_trade

  3. Run calculations

    The agent calculates the difference between import and export totals to find the balance.

    get_trade

  4. Format results

    The AI presents the final surplus or deficit in a clean, readable format.

    get_trade

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to begin your analysis.

Starting points

Swap out the commodity or country names in these prompts to get specific results.

UK ONS Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_t6iRWNzEukKgcf7FJu50KCv0HInxKcx0ZfjquF1K/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — UK ONS capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "uk-ons-trade-international-trade-business-activity-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_t6iRWNzEukKgcf7FJu50KCv0HInxKcx0ZfjquF1K/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Get the monthly export and import figures for automotive goods in the UK.

  • Calculate the trade balance for Germany compared to the UK for last month.

  • Show me the trade deficit for electronics in the UK over the last three months.

  • What is the current trade surplus for UK oil exports by country?

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect UK ONS Trade once, then ask.

Just click the link to connect the MCP to your client. Your credentials stay encrypted, and you can start asking questions immediately.

Connect UK ONS Trade to your AI

FAQ

How this task behaves

  • 01

    Can the AI change the actual ONS data?

    No. The AI can only read the data through the get_trade tool. It has no permission to modify any official records.

  • 02

    Does the AI create its own trade figures?

    No. It only pulls real figures from the ONS. Any math it performs is based strictly on those retrieved numbers.

  • 03

    Can I ask for data from a specific year?

    Yes, as long as the data is available in the ONS records, the AI can pull it using the tool.

  • 04

    Will the AI automatically send reports to my email?

    No. The AI only provides the data and calculations within your chat interface. You must handle any external distribution yourself.

  • 05

    Can the AI analyze trade trends over several years?

    Yes, you can ask it to pull monthly data for a specific period to identify long-term trends.

  • More questions about UK ONS Trade? The Connector page answers them. See everything the UK ONS Trade Connector can do

Connect UK ONS to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more