UK Food and Drink Exports to EU Decline Sharply Since Brexit amid Trade Hurdles

UK food and drink exports to the EU have dropped by over a third since Brexit, with post-Brexit trade rules blamed for the decline.

British food and drink export volumes to the EU have been shown to decrease significantly after Brexit. In 2024, the volumes fell to 6.37 billion kg representing a decline of 34% from levels in 2019, as reported by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF). Though whisky, chocolate, and cheese have retained their popularity as post-Brexit exports, there have been increased complexities for SMEs when exporting their products.

In contrast, food and drink imports into the UK reached an unprecedented £63.1 billion in 2024, with imports from the EU rising by 3.3% and those from non-EU countries rising by 7.4%. Despite introducing new border checks in April 2024 for EU animal and plant products, EU imports continued to rise. The FDF argues that UK exporters face more stringent EU trade requirements than EU producers exporting to the UK. The FDF demands that the government remove these "unnecessary barriers" and take a strategic view of trade with the EU.

The difficulties brought about by Brexit have been gradually eliminated, but they still exist. In the meantime, by 2024, UK food exports had grown by over 6% worldwide. Under the new trade agreement, exports to Australia have grown by 9%, and the US is now the UK's third-largest market. Donald Trump has suggested a 200% tariff on EU wines, which is expected to be resisted by a potential trade agreement between the US and the UK. The FDF is urging the government to act quickly to support the UK's faltering food and beverage industries.