This growth can be attributed to ‘soaring’ levels of sales to Australia, France and India and due to increasing demand for quality British products such as chocolate. Key findings from the report include:
- Food and drink exports have seen significant growth in non-EU markets set for UK trade deals, with the UAE (30%), Canada (23.4%), Australia (16.6%) and India (81%).
- Chocolate was the UK’s largest exported food product in the first half of 2022 worth £368m, up 12% since 2021, with sales to many non-EU markets, including Saudi Arabia and Canada, growing quickly.
- To compensate for a 19% reduction in the volume of sunflower oil imports, there has been a strong growth in alternative products, with rapeseed oil imports up 125%.
Dominic Goudie, head of international trade at the FDF, commented: “It is promising to see exports to EU and non-EU markets top pre-pandemic levels given the exciting opportunities presented by new trade deals with Canada, Australia, India and the Gulf Cooperation Council. These are vital to driving future growth in the UK food and drink sector.
“Our industry continues to show resilience in the face of multiple challenges including the war in Ukraine and sharply rising costs. It is important the Government supports food and drink exporters to help us drive further growth in new markets that will support the UK’s economic recovery.”