• Despite prolonged political uncertainty, half of UK firms (51%) remain positive and predict Brexit will have a positive effect on their business in 2020
• A third (29%) expect Brexit to have a ‘significant’ positive impact on their business
• Over half of firms expect imports and exports of services to grow this year, on average by 9% and 11% respectively
• Financial and professional services firms most confident, with one in five (20%) predicting their import business will grow by 26-50%, and a third (30%) expecting exports to grow up to 25%

 Half of UK firms (51%) expect geopolitical tensions, such as Brexit, to have a positive effect on their business in 2020, according to new research released today by trade finance provider Stenn.

The study, which spoke to 250 senior executives at medium-large sized businesses in the UK^[2] conducted prior to the general election, revealed that despite the prolonged uncertainty, businesses remain upbeat with nearly a third (29%) expecting this positive effect to be ‘significant’.

While it’s unlikely a UK-EU trade deal will be in place until the end of the year, over half (56%) of firms expect their company’s import business will grow in 2020, on average by 9%.

Similarly, in terms of exporting services, a further half (57%) of UK firms expect revenue to grow this year, on average by 11%. Breaking this down, well over a tenth (15%) of firms predict their export business will grow 11-15% in revenue, and one in 10 (11%) expect a growth of between 21 and 25%.

Looking across industries, growth for imports and exports is felt highest across financial and professional services. The study showed 29% of firms in this sector predict their import of services will grow up to 25% in revenue this year, and a further one in five (20%) expect growth of 26-50%. When looking at exports, a third (30%) of financial and professional services firms also expect their export business to grow up to 25% in revenue, and 27% predict it will grow 26-50%.

In the manufacturing industry, 41% of senior executives expect their import business to grow up to 25% this year, and a third (32%) predict their export business will also grow between 1-25%.

By comparison, just 12% of wholesalers predict the same high growth of between 26-50% in their import business, and 15% expect equal growth in export. Wholesalers are divided on whether their export business will grow or shrink between 1-25% this year (both 27%).

Dr. Kerstin Braun, President of Stenn Group, commented: “The UK is on the cusp of leaving the EU and as we edge closer to the January 31^st exit date the country is in an unprecedented stage.

“As 2019 was marked by business uncertainty, 2020 will be the year that companies forge ahead with new growth strategies.

“The general election provided businesses with much needed clarity surrounding Brexit and it’s wholly encouraging that even prior to the result, businesses have been feeling positive about the impact it will have. Businesses have been given the assurance they need to plan ahead to a post-Brexit era.

“While a Brexit trade deal probably won’t be agreed until the end of the year, businesses largely remain confident that both their import and export business activity will grow in 2020.

“We know UK firms are looking to non-EU markets. As of October, exports to non-EU countries were growing twice as fast than those to the bloc, largely driven in part by the US and China, with total trade with the USA surpassing £200 billion for the first time^[3].

“The UK’s non-EU export business grew by 4.2% in October, in comparison to a rise of 1.6% to EU member countries.

“Some of this rebound will be the result of the expected upswing in global trade, but we can strongly say that UK companies are ready to get back to business.”