UK food and drink exports plummet due to post-Brexit red tape

Since Brexit, the UK has experienced a significant decline in food and drink exports, which dropped by over a third. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) reported that export volumes fell 34.1 percent in 2024 compared to figures from 2019, with total exports amounting to 6.37 billion kilograms. Key products like whisky, chocolate, and cheese still enjoy popularity among EU customers, but overall trade with the bloc has sharply decreased. The FDF attributes this decline to increased bureaucratic barriers that have evolved in the UK's trading relationship with the EU since its exit. Between 2020 and 2024, the UK's global food export volumes have averaged nearly 20 percent lower than during the period from 2015 to 2019. While the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine have also affected trade, nations such as Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands have seen an increase in their average export volumes. The FDF's report emphasizes that the challenges facing the UK are not reflective of a global trend but instead unique to the post-Brexit trading environment. In 2024, food and drink imports to the UK were valued at £63.1 billion, reflecting increases in imports from both the EU (3.3 percent) and non-EU countries (7.4 percent). Notably, the EU remains the UK's most significant trading partner, accounting for 61.8 percent of exports and 75.6 percent of imports. This disparity poses challenges for UK businesses, especially smaller enterprises that struggle to meet stringent EU requirements, leading to calls for improved bilateral cooperation. The FDF urges the UK government to collaborate with the food and drink industry to eliminate unnecessary barriers to trade with the EU. Balwinder Dhoot, the director of industry growth and sustainability at the FDF, highlighted that the complexity and bureaucracy of trading with Europe severely impact the UK’s food and drink businesses. The government has expressed its commitment to reducing these barriers, aiming to prioritize growth and tackle the rising cost of food amidst these challenges.