Food and drink exports from the UK have plummeted due to a sharp drop in trade with the EU after Brexit, according to fresh research published today.
Data from the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) shows overall UK exports of food and drink slid £2bn in the first half of this year, primarily the result of a more than a quarter contraction of sales to the EU compared to the first six months of 2019.
UK food and drink exports to EU
UK Food and drink exports to Ireland fell by £0.5bn in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2019.
Dominic Goudie, head of international trade at the FDF, said: “This is a disastrous loss of £2bn in sales to the EU. It clearly demonstrates the serious difficulties manufacturers in our industry continue to face and the urgent need for additional specialist support.”
Friction in normal trading operations due to the Covid crisis, compounded with the two blocs struggling to adjust to the logistics of the new relationship between London and Brussels, drove exports down sharply.
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