Eu Rebound, Us Growth Boosts Uk Food And Drinks Exports In H1

6 days ago

Total exports reached £12.4bn ($16.5bn) successful H1, up 6.8% year-on-year; excluding alcohol, exports totalled £8.9bn.

UK nutrient and portion export volumes rebounded successful nan first half of 2025, pinch a return to maturation successful nan EU successful nan 2nd 4th and double-digit gains to nan US.

The Food and Drink Federation’s (FDF) latest Trade Snapshot study showed full volumes roseate 7.2% to 4.5bn kilograms successful nan opening six months of nan twelvemonth and climbed 0.6% to 590m litres. However, nan manufacture assemblage emphasised that wide volumes stay 13% beneath 2023 levels.

In worth terms, UK nutrient and beverage exports reached £12.4bn ($16.5bn) successful H1, up 6.8% year-on-year. When intoxicant is excluded, exports amounted to £8.9bn, an summation of 8.4%.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to scope engaged professionals crossed 36 starring media platforms.

Find retired much

Food and drinks shipments to nan EU, nan UK’s largest trading partner, roseate 4.2% successful worth to £7.1bn. Exports to non-EU countries climbed 10.6% to £5.3bn.

There was a notable 18.9% summation to nan US to £1.4bn, contempt nan further 10% tariff imposed successful April, nan FDF said, which, it said, reflects “the UK’s comparatively amended woody successful immoderate categories of nutrient and portion than immoderate different nations”.

Balwinder Dhoot, nan FDF’s head of maturation and sustainability, said: “It’s affirmative to spot an summation successful export volumes compared pinch past year, and now we request to spell further. Government and manufacture tin activity together to usage this arsenic a springboard to turbocharge export growth.”

The manufacture assemblage warned that US tariffs will proceed to person an effect successful H2 and called for efforts to unafraid rates connected products wherever UK tariffs are higher than EU competitors specified arsenic chocolate, crystal pick and soft drinks.

With retaliatory measures constraining US exporters to markets including Mexico, Canada and China, nan FDF said it sees near-term openings for UK suppliers to capable proviso gaps.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

Don’t fto argumentation changes drawback you disconnected guard. Stay proactive pinch real-time information and master analysis.

By GlobalData

Elsewhere, exports to New Zealand roseate 19.7% 2 years aft nan Australia–New Zealand waste and acquisition woody took effect, while shipments to Australia were “broadly stable”.

Exports to India grew 11.6% to £148.7m.

A UK–India free waste and acquisition statement signed successful July 2025 is expected to trim aliases region selected Indian tariffs successful 2026, perchance accelerating maturation complete nan adjacent decade, nan FDF said.

Meanwhile, imports to nan UK roseate 5.5% to £32.8bn, supported by beef, cocoa and fish.

Non-EU imports climbed 15.1%, to £10.5bn, expanding their stock of full imports by 2.7 percent points to 32.1%; Canada and China led pinch 39% and 17.5% growth, respectively.

The FDF framed nan first-half waste and acquisition capacity arsenic “green shoots” pursuing a twelvemonth of flatlining exports, and urged authorities to partner pinch “industry to prehend this waste and acquisition maturation and guarantee it continues”.

It besides highlighted export momentum to Turkey, wherever UK shipments jumped 68.6% successful H1 to a “record” £201.3m and underscored nan imaginable from an updated UK–Turkey free waste and acquisition agreement.

Beyond bilateral deals, nan FDF reiterated nan worth of a broad waste and acquisition pact pinch nan Gulf Cooperation Council, citing “high” location request for UK products.

It besides pressed for a caller sanitary and phytosanitary statement pinch nan EU to trim costly checks and certification.

Pending immoderate agreement, nan group urged clear guidance and phased transitions to trim separator friction.

Dhoot concluded: “We want to activity pinch authorities to create a clear and eager target to boost nan UK’s overseas nutrient and portion sales, pinch a semipermanent scheme to thief america deed it.

“£This could see improving entree to world markets for illustration Turkey and Mexico, ensuring nan soft implementation of an EU SPS agreement, bringing down US tariffs wherever they’re higher than those paid by nan EU, and supporting businesses that want to waste and acquisition pinch caller markets.”

Just Food Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain nan nickname you deserve! The Just Food Excellence Awards observe innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your manufacture profile, and position yourself among apical leaders driving nutrient manufacture advancements. Don’t miss your chance to guidelines out—submit your introduction today!

Nominate Now