Traders and Intermediaries Panel research for HMRC in 2025
Most traders and intermediaries traded both imports and exports in the past year, particularly with the EU. The majority operated in both directions (93% of intermediaries, 76% of self-declaring traders and 64% of non-declaring traders), while only small proportions traded solely in one direction.
HMRC commissioned Ipsos to conduct research with UK businesses that trade or facilitate trade internationally. The research is part of a new panel approach comprising a recruitment survey and a follow-up survey (with the intention to undertake further quarterly surveys) to help HMRC understand trader and intermediary experience and behaviour across multiple policy areas. The recruitment survey took place between 23 June and 22 August 2025 with 1,606 businesses. The follow-up survey took place between 21 August and 22 September 2025 with 583 businesses.
Some key findings from the surveys are as follows:
- Most traders and intermediaries traded both imports and exports in the past year, particularly with the EU. The majority operated in both directions (93% of intermediaries, 76% of self-declaring traders and 64% of non-declaring traders), while only small proportions traded solely in one direction
- Full (import or export) customs declarations were the most commonly completed customs declarations for both self-declaring traders and customs intermediaries. Use of systems and services was much higher among customs intermediaries than self-declaring traders. Intermediaries were more confident than self-declaring traders in submitting customs declarations to HMRC for both imports and exports.
- Around half of self-declaring traders and 6 in 10 customs intermediaries found CDS easy to use for both imports and exports. Familiarity with the CDS process was the main reason given for it being easy, while unclear instructions and guidance was the main reason it was found difficult to use.
- Customs intermediaries were more likely to use groupage transport than traders (73% versus 36% self-declaring traders and 34% non-declaring traders). Around a third of traders met the requirement to access preferential tariffs. A similar proportion (28% of self-declaring traders and 27% of non-declaring traders) said they did not meet the requirement to access preferential tariffs, as their tariffs were already zero or suspended outside the Free Trade Agreement.
- At least two-thirds of businesses agreed that they had trust in HMRC as their customs authority: 67% self-declaring traders, 70% non-declaring traders and 74% customs intermediaries.
