• About FDF
• News
• Policy areas
• EU Exit
• Membership
• Facts and stats
  • Regional map of statistics
  • Stats at a Glance
  • Business Confidence
  • Exports
    • 2018 full year
    • 2018 Q3
    • 2018 H1
    • 2018 Q1
    • 2017 full year
    • 2017 Q3
    • 2017 H1
    • Export guidance
  • Case Studies
  • Industry Standards
• Events & training
• Publications
• Venue

Exports

There is no better time than now for food and drink manufacturers to focus on growing exports.

If you don't believe us then take a look at some of the success stories of our members. Below is some useful information on where to go to find export help.

• FDF/FDEA Growth through Exports Guide
• UK Export Statistics

FDF/FDEA Growth through Exports guide

Growth through Exports - Five Steps to Food and Drink Exporting Success has been developed by FDF and Food and Drink Exporters Association (FDEA) as part of an enhanced partnership to help more of Britain's 6,500 business to export.

The guide provides useful information and tips on how food and drink manufacturers can begin exporting to foreign markets including details of necessary research, and how to create exporting opportunities and useful contacts.

As part of FDF's 20/20 vision for growth which looks to see economic input from Food and Drink manufacturers increase by 20% between 2010-2020, FDF have set an ambition to grow value-added food and drink exports by a third to achieve a total value of £6 billion by 2020.

Regular joint activity and promotions between FDF and FDEA will be a key strand of FDF's efforts to achieve that ambition, with a networking reception at Food and Drink Expo 2016, hosted by UKTI, being the first in a series of events.

• View the FDF/FDEA Growth through Export guide

top

UK export statistics

FDF publishes an annual report on the food and drink export performance of the UK. Food and Drink exports is one of the great stories for the UK and a great way to highlight the strength of our industry over the last few years.

H1 exports: Executive summary

• H1 2018 exports of all food and drink hit £10.68bn, up 5.1% on 2017, led by growth to the EU27.
• Growth in exports to EU countries (+7.3%) outpaced those to non-EU countries (+1.6%).
• The top five markets made up over half (52%) of overall food and drink exports, with exports to Ireland alone holding a share of 18.4%.
• H1 2018 exports of branded goods rose by 4.6% overall, despite a fall in exports to non-EU markets which was due to negative growth in sales of animal feed and sweet biscuits.
• The fastest growing UK products by value within the top 10 were breakfast cereals, gin and beef.
• Over the past 10 years, from H1 2008 to H1 2018, food and drink exports have grown by 75%, with an average annual growth rate of 5.2%. Over the same period, exports to non-EU countries grew faster (108%) than to EU countries (60%).

View report: UK food and drink export statistics 2018 - H1

top