British food and drink exports to the EU have dropped by 34% since 2019, with total export volumes falling to 6.37 billion kg in 2024. While global factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war have impacted trade, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) attributes much of the decline to Brexit-related barriers. Countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy have increased their exports in the same period, highlighting the disproportionate impact on UK businesses.
At the same time, food and drink imports into the UK have hit record highs, reaching £63.1 billion in 2024. Imports from the EU rose by 3.3%, while non-EU imports increased by 7.4%. Despite the UK introducing new border checks for EU food imports in April 2024, imported goods still face fewer restrictions than UK exports to the EU, creating an uneven playing field. Small and medium-sized UK exporters, in particular, are struggling with the EU’s stringent import regulations.
The FDF is urging the government to address these trade imbalances by working with EU regulators to remove unnecessary barriers. As global food exports rise, the UK is seeing growth in markets like Australia and the U.S., where exports increased by 9% in 2024. However, Brexit’s long-term impact on trade remains a challenge, particularly as Donald Trump’s tariff threats against EU goods add another layer of uncertainty to global trade dynamics.
