The FDF publishes quarterly reports of trade statistics, detailing the latest UK food and drink export and import figures. Our reports provide a wide range of content, including export and import analysis on the UK’s top traded products, key markets worldwide, areas with growth potential, and practical insight from our partners.
The UK’s top export destinations in 2020 were Ireland, France and the USA
The UK’s top import sources in 2020 were the Netherlands, Germany and Ireland.
Updates
Q3 2021 Food and Drink Trade Snapshot
UpdateFDF’s newly released Q3 Trade Snapshot looks at UK food and drink trade up to September 2021. Non-EU markets are beginning to show signs of recovery from 2020 losses, with exports up from 2020, and imports higher than pre-Covid-19 levels in 2019. Non-EU markets now make up over 45% of all of the UK exports.
Areas of interest for 2022 such as the Gulf and ASEAN regions, are looked at in the report, where exports are up from 2020.
Exports to the EU are continuing to fall, down 13.9% compared to 2020 and down 23.7% since 2019. Ireland, Germany, Italy and Spain have been particularly badly hit, continuing the downwards trend seen over the last four years. This report also looks at EU imports, which are down 8.4% since 2020 and down 10.8% since 2019.
H1 2021 Food and Drink Trade Snapshot
FDF’s newly-released H1 Trade Snapshot looks at UK food and drink trade in the first half of 2021. Exports towards non-EU countries showing signs of recovery from the losses of 2020 and are now worth £4.3bn, or 47% of total exports.
Some of the fastest growing markets are located in Central and South America. The report looks at Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Chile, in which exports have almost doubled since 2020.
Exports to the EU fell by 20% compared to last year, and 27% from 2019 with sales to the Republic of Ireland down almost a third. France was the only major EU market to see some growth since 2020. The report also looks at imports from the EU, which were down 11% from 2020.
Q1 2021 Food and Drink Trade Snapshot
FDF’s newly-released Q1 Trade Snapshot shows that for the first time in our reporting, non-EU exports of food and drink outgrew sales to countries in EU as a consequence of a large drop in sales, resulting from the ongoing impacts of Covid-19 ad changes in the UK’s trading relationships.
Exports to the EU fell by 47% compared to the same quarter last year, with sales to the Republic of Ireland down more than three quarters. The report also looks at imports from the EU, which were down 16% from Q1 2020.
In Q1 2021 there has also been a return to strong growth exports to East Asia, where there is a high demand for quality UK food and drink, driven by growing demand from China, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea.
UK-EU Food and Drink Trade Snapshot: February 2021
The Food and Drink Federation has produced its second Food and Drink Trade snapshot this year, looking at trade between the UK and the EU for the month of February 2021.
Exports case studies
Case Study
Joe & Seph's
Joe & Seph's are a family business from London with a mission to produce the best-tasting popcorn in the world, and were awarded FDF Exporter of the Year in 2016.
Case Study
Loch Duart Salmon
Loch Duart farms in the Hebrides and Sutherland in a sustainable manner making no compromise in our aim to produce extraordinary tasting Scottish salmon, which is sold to leading hotels, restaurants and retailers in the UK and worldwide.
Case Study
Nairn's
Nairn's know their oats. They have been baking with them since 1896. Using wholegrain oats grown in the nearby Scottish Borders, where the climate is perfect for slowly and naturally ripening the grains – the oats don't need insecticides. Nairn's aim is to make tasty, wholesome food that's as simple and natural as possible.
Case Study
Delamere Dairy
Cheshire based Delamere Dairy sells a range of fresh and long-life speciality dairy products using cows, goats and sheep milk, for its milks, butters, yogurts and cheeses.
Case Study
Jordans & Ryvita
The Jordans & Ryvita Company is an owned subsidiary of Associated British Foods that produces whole grain breakfast cereals and crispbreads under the Jordans, Dorset and Ryvita brands.
Case Study
Mr Lee's
Mr Lee’s Pure Foods are an award-winning brand of gourmet instant noodles. Using the finest ingredients, the noodles and their flavours are uniquely crafted from authentic recipes, created by the brand’s team of Asian innovators.
Case Study
Walkers Nonsuch
Walker’s Nonsuch is an independent family company specialising in making quality toffee.
EU customs and trade support
We have been working to put in place a range of solutions that will help members moving goods into and out of the EU. This includes a programme of training courses, free expert guidance, customs support and staffing assistance.
Read moreReport: Exports snapshot: Q1 2021
18 June 2021
FDF’s newly-released Q1 Trade Snapshot shows that for the first time in our reporting, non-EU exports of food and drink outgrew sales to countries in EU as a consequence of a large drop in sales, resulting from the ongoing impacts of Covid-19 and changes in the UK’s trading relationships.
Read more