The UK’s fur trade in 2024 was limited in scale, particularly compared to major global producers and consumers.

Raw fur imports remained very low at just £140,000, with small-scale exports to countries like Thailand. Imports of tanned furskins totalled £7.1 million, while trade in fur garments reached £27.5 million in imports and £14.9 million in exports—primarily involving luxury goods from and to countries such as Italy. These figures reflect a market that is relatively niche and focused on specialised fashion, rather than mass consumption.

While fur remains present in the UK economy, its scale is far smaller than that of countries like China, Russia, or even the USA.

These figures underline a contradiction: while the UK bans fur farming and brands itself as a leader in animal welfare, it still functions as a trader of foreign-produced fur goods, contributing to keeping the global fur industry alive.