UK food and drink export volumes recoiled in the very first fifty percent of 2025, with a return to growth in the EU in the second quarter and double-digit gains to the United States.
Numbers from trade body The Food and Consume Federation (FDF) showed total quantities climbed 7 2 % to 4 5 bn kilograms in the opening six months of the year and climbed 0. 6 % to 590 m litres. However, the market body emphasised that overall volumes continue to be 13 % listed below 2023 degrees.
In worth terms, UK food and drink exports reached ₤ 12 4 bn ($ 16 5 bn) in H 1, up 6 8 % year-on-year. When alcohol is excluded, exports totaled up to ₤ 8 9 bn, a rise of 8 4 %.
Discover B 2 B Advertising That Does
Integrate service intelligence and editorial quality to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media systems.
Food and beverages shipments to the EU, the UK’s biggest trading partner, climbed 4 2 % in value to ₤ 7 1 bn. Exports to non-EU countries climbed up 10 6 % to ₤ 5 3 bn.
There was a noteworthy 18 9 % increase to the United States to ₤ 1 4 bn, in spite of the extra 10 % toll imposed in April, the FDF said, which, it said, mirrors “the UK’s comparatively better deal in some classifications of food and beverage than some other nations”.
Balwinder Dhoot, the FDF’s director of development and sustainability, said: “It’s positive to see a rise in export quantities compared to in 2014, and now we need to go additionally. Government and sector can interact to use this as a springboard to turbocharge export development.”
The market body alerted that US tolls will remain to have an influence in H 2 and called for initiatives to safeguard rates on items where UK tariffs are higher than EU rivals such as chocolate, gelato and soft drinks.
With vindictive steps constricting US merchants to markets consisting of Mexico, Canada and China, the FDF said it sees near-term openings for UK providers to fill up supply gaps.
Somewhere else, exports to New Zealand climbed 19 7 % two years after the Australia– New Zealand trade bargain took effect, while deliveries to Australia were “extensively stable”.
Exports to India expanded 11 6 % to ₤ 148 7 m.
A UK– India free trade arrangement signed in July 2025 is anticipated to lower or get rid of chosen Indian tolls in 2026, possibly increasing growth over the following years, the FDF said.
At the same time, imports to the UK climbed 5 5 % to ₤ 32 8 bn, sustained by beef, delicious chocolate and fish.
Non-EU imports climbed 15 1 %, to ₤ 10 5 bn, increasing their share of total imports by 2 7 percentage indicate 32 1 %; Canada and China led with 39 % and 17 5 % development, specifically.
The FDF mounted the first-half profession efficiency as “green shoots” following a year of flatlining exports, and urged government to partner with “industry to seize this profession development and guarantee it continues”.
It additionally highlighted export energy to Turkey, where UK shipments jumped 68 6 % in H 1 to a “record” ₤ 201 3 m and underscored the possibility from an updated UK– Turkey open market contract.
Beyond reciprocal deals, the FDF repeated the value of a thorough trade deal with the Gulf Collaboration Council, mentioning “high” local demand for UK products.
It additionally pressed for a new hygienic and phytosanitary agreement with the EU to cut pricey checks and certification.
Pending any agreement, the team urged clear guidance and phased shifts to reduce border friction.
Dhoot wrapped up: “We want to collaborate with government to create a clear and ambitious target to improve the UK’s abroad food and beverage sales, with a long-term plan to aid us hit it.
₤ This might include boosting access to worldwide markets like Turkey and Mexico, making sure the smooth implementation of an EU SPS contract, reducing United States tariffs where they’re higher than those paid by the EU, and supporting businesses that intend to trade with new markets.”
