In Domestic Affairs

David Stevenson

British Food & Drink Federation reports the lowest export figure since 2012

British Food & Drink Federation reports the lowest export figure since 2012

Beef exports to the EU decreased in the first half of this year, but whisky and salmon exports increased.

According to figures from the British Food & Drink Federation, total exports of food and drink products fell by 16 percent to about £ 4.9 billion (about € 5.7 billion). That’s the lowest amount since 2012. The cause of this sharp decline is the coronavirus pandemic and, in particular, Brexit: since the beginning of this year, customs controls have been carried out at the EU border.

As a result, beef exports fell by around 25% compared with the previous year, pork exports by almost 20% and chicken exports by almost 18%. Sheep meat was exported to the EU by 4 percent.

On the contrary, whisky exports to the EU increased by almost 20 percent. Salmon exports also swam against the current and increased by almost 27 percent.