Top Export Markets

The top 4 markets (which accounted for 54.3% of exports in the first half of 2011) remain fixed in their positions despite some large increases in exports to no.3 Netherlands +27.8% and no.4 Germany +28.0%.

In the remaining top 20 positions (which accounted for 30.7% of exports in the first half of 2011) there were a number of movements with major climbers being Belgium, Poland, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland. Italy and Portugal were the biggest fallers dropping more than one place with four other markets dropping one place.

Outside the top 20, exports to Greece have recovered ranked 23rd in first half 2010 and at 21st in the same period in 2011 due to a 29.9% increase in food and non-alcoholic drink exports. China continues to ascend and is now ranked at 22 with exports growing an impressive 52.5%.

In this section:

Growth markets

The highest growth markets in the top 20 included:

  • The Netherlands, +27.8% to £536.0m due to a 35% increase in meat, a 69.4% increase in cheese and a 167.9% increase in commodity cereal exports.
  • Germany, +28.0% to £504.9m following a 29% increase in fats and oils, a 69.6% increase in cheese and helped by a 611.8% surge in the export of rapeseed.
  • Belgium, +48.5% to £288.2m due to a 540.4% increase in exports of butter, a 170.1% increase in commodity cereal exports and a 32.1% increase in fats & oils.
  • USA, +19.4% to £220.5m as fish and seafood continue to be in high demand growing 85.0% due to strong growth in both the fresh and filleted fish categories.
  • Poland, bouncing with an increase of 83.2% to £103.3m following a 13.8% fall in the first half of 2010. There were double digit increases in nearly all categories except fats and oils with a quarter of the overall increase due to a surge in the demand for UK rapeseed.

Top 20 export countries

UK Exports of Food & Non-alcoholic drinks:
Top 20 Countries - Jan-June 2010-2011 (£ million)
Rank Country Jan-June 2010 Jan-June 2011

% change 2010-11

1 (-) Ireland

1,319.9

1,420.4 7.6
2 (-) France 634.2 684.7 8.0
3 (-) Netherlands 419.4 536.0 27.8
4 (-) Germany 394.6 504.9 27.9
5 (+2) Belgium 194.1 288.2 48.5
6 (-1) Spain 296.1 239.0 -19.3
7 (+1) United States 184.7 220.5 19.4
8 (-2) Italy 222.2 216.2 -2.7
9 (+1) Denmark 84.6 105.7 25.0
10 (+3) Poland 56.4 103.3 83.2
11 (-) Sweden 67.3 93.1 38.2
12 (-) Norway 63.2 78.6 24.4
13 (+1) Canada 56.2 66.4 18.2
14 (-5) Portugal 90.1 58.5 -35.1
15 (+1) United Arab Emirates 54.2 58.3 7.7
16 (-1) Russia 54.9 54.4 -0.8
17 (+3) Saudi Arabia 39.6 53.4 34.9
18 (-1) Hong Kong 41.8 53.1 27.2
19 (-1) Australia 40.3 44.9 11.5
20 (+2) Switzerland 35.5 44.6 25.8

Source: HMRC Trade Info
Changes in ranking position are versus 2009.

top

More information

Download the full UK Food and Drink Export Performance statistics research report - (first half 2011) - pdf | 112kb


Last reviewed: 05 Oct 2011