Exports to the EU between 2021 and 2025 were down by 23.4% compared with the five-year period between 2016 and 2020, according to the FDF’s Trade Snapshot for the third quarter of 2025.
The Snapshot showed that between 2021 to 2025 food and drink exports to Germany dropped almost 60% (59.1%), more than halved (51.9%) to Poland, and were down almost two fifths (39.9%) to Belgium, compared to 2016 to 2020.
Meanwhile, the Trade Snapshot also showed that global food export volumes rose by 5.8% since the start of 2025. This has been led by growth in exports to markets beyond the EU, which have outpaced EU exports, rising 6.2% year-on-year in value terms.
New global trading relationships had provided the opportunity to boost growth, including with India, where exports have grown by nearly a tenth (9.6%) so far this year, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), where food exports have increased 6.3%.
Meanwhile, imports from non-EU countries have also seen a notable surge, up 17.1% year-on-year, contributing to the UK’s food security – with total food and drink imports reaching new high this year to date, totalling £49.6bn.
The FDF said that the new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement would be a positive step towards reducing some of the current cost and complexity associated with trading with the EU. But the FDF said it would not remove all barriers to trade and renewed support will be needed for businesses/
This includes providing businesses with sufficient transition periods and timelines during negotiations to ensure industry can adapt to new trading conditions.
FDF said that the SPS agreement is “just one part of the puzzle” addressing key issues such as food safety and plant health, but there’s still wider regulation causing friction when trading with Europe.
It highlighted the need to develop complementary policy on areas such as packaging and labelling, alongside continuing to support businesses navigating customs procedures.
Karen Betts, Chief Executive, The Food and Drink Federation (FDF), said: “At a time when food and drink businesses are facing rising production costs, regulatory pressures, and weak consumer confidence at home, easing barriers to trade and growing our exports could not be more important.
“A new SPS deal with the EU will help remove barriers to trade with our largest trading partner. But the SPS agreement isn’t a silver bullet, and government will need to work closely with industry to ensure it works for business.”
Betts added: “We’ve seen exports to the rest of the world outpace the EU in the last year, and there’s much more government can do to work with exporters, particularly SMEs, to ensure we maintain that momentum. We’re calling on government to work with us on a 10-year export growth plan, backed by £2.6mn of government funds to help businesses expand to new markets. This will support the government’s ‘number one’ growth mission, as well as building the resilience and competitiveness of UK food and drink manufacturing.”
