Top Export Markets

In 2009, the top 9 countries for UK exporters continued to be the same, although Portugal has displaced Sweden in 10th place. The top 10 countries account for 76% of all UK food and nonalcoholic drink exports.

The two top 10 markets to suffer a fall in exports in 2009 were Germany (down 4.2%, largely due to a 26.6% decline in pork exports), and Denmark (down 27.5%, with a 76.1% fall off in frozen fish, as well as a 22.2% drop in pork).

In this section:

Double digit growth in exports was recorded to:

  • The USA (+17.4%, including 82.7% growth in the leading category fish and seafood, which now accounts for just under a third of all food and non-alcoholic exports to the US).
  • Portugal (+29.6%, with a 440.5% jump in frozen cod and a 166.5% rise in lamb, along with a solid 11.3% growth in the leading category of commodity cereals).
  • Canada (+10.5%, with a 26.3% rise in tea and a 17.9% rise in sauces and condiments).
  • The UAE (+18.3%, with a 131.3% rise in dairy, a 65.7% rise in breakfast cereals, and a 62.3% rise in cakes/pastries/bread).
  • Australia (+17.2%, including 72.0% growth in chocolate and 41.5% growth in breakfast cereals).
  • Saudi Arabia (+14.0%, including 54.4% growth in sauces and condiments, and 30.0% growth in breakfast cereals).

Top 20 growth markets in 2009

Fast growth markets just outside the top 20 are Egypt at no.21 (+42.9% with shelled beans a fast growing sector), Hong Kong at no.22 (+21.0%, including +43.3% in meat and +59.8% in fish and seafood), Switzerland at no.23 (+15.4%, including +98.7% in meat) and China, no.25 (+30.7%, including +190.8 in fats and oils, and +34.4% in sauces and condiments).

Poland, Russia, Japan and Greece all recorded negative performances in 2009. Poland down 3.0% (including a 16.4% drop in meat), Russia down 3.2% (including a 17.5% drop in sauces and condiments), Japan down 7.5% (including a 6.8% decline in tea, and 37.5% drop in coffee) and Greece down 8.5% (including a 75.6% drop in sugars).

UK Exports of Food & Non-alcoholic drinks:
Top 20 Countries - 2008-2009 (£ million)
Rank Country 2008 2009 % change 2008-09
1 (-) Ireland

2,449.2

2,589.0 5.7
2 (-) France 1,142.3 1,211.4 6.0
3 (-) Netherlands 777.5 847.8 9.0
4 (-) Germany 688.6 659.9 -4.2
5 (-) Spain 574.6 579.7 0.9
6 (-) Italy 427.0 451.0 5.6
7 (-) Belgium 358.4 373.5 4.2
8 (-) United States 258.1 303.0 17.4
9 (-) Denmark 220.9 160.2 -27.5
10 (+1) Portugal 118.6 153.6 29.6
11 (-1) Sweden 129.7 129.8 0.0
12 (-) Norway

116.8

127.6 9.2
13 (+1) Canada 112.5 124.3 10.5
14 (-1) Poland 116.4 113.0 -3.0
15 (-) Russia 100.0 96.8 -3.2
16 (+2) United Arab Emirates 75.4 89.2 18.3
17 (+2) Australia 68.8 80.7 17.2
18 (-1) Japan 86.1 79.7 -7.5
19 (-3) Greece 86.1 78.8 -8.5
20 (-) Saudia Arabia 66.6 75.9 14.0

Source: Leatherhead Food Research
Changes in ranking position are versus 2008.

top

More information

Download the full UK Food and Drink Performance (2009) statistics research report - pdf | 228kb

Research carried out by Leatherhead Food Research for the Food and Drink Federation (April 2010)


Last reviewed: 20 Apr 2010