Reaching an unprecedented total of £25.6 billion (up 4.8% year on year), food exports increased by a healthy 6% in terms of volume, but are still lower than their pre-Brexit peak, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) says.
Released as part of the body’s 2025 Trade Snapshot, the data also revealed that imports reached a historic high of £66.9 billion, up 5.9% compared to 2024.
Despite this record high in value – driven in part by the considerable inflation that has gripped the sector in the post-pandemic era – export volume is still over a quarter (27%) lower than in 2019, reaching 8.9 billion kg in 2025.
EU food export volumes have been particularly affected, due to the added complexity that businesses face in trading with the UK’s largest trade partner, with volumes tracking nearly a third (31%) lower in 2025 than 2019 levels.
Notably, the UK’s non‑EU food imports are growing faster than those from the EU, with non‑EU imports now making up 30.9% of the UK’s total imports, increasing from 29.3% in 2024, driven by business with countries such as Brazil and Canada.
The FDF also highlighted the significant impact of Donald Trump’s tariff uncertainty on global supply chains, with the UK’s exports to the US dropping 8.9% in H2 2025 compared to H2 2024.
This is in stark contrast to the 18.1% rise recorded in the first half of 2025, before the full impact of the new tariff regime was felt.
The rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East, resulting from the joint US–Israeli intervention in Iran, will serve to further complicate matters, with food and drink manufacturers already facing higher costs, including transport and logistics, which will impact product pricing and competitiveness.
On a more positive note, UK food and drink businesses have gained momentum in growing markets across the world.
Very promising export growth was, for example, seen across fast-growing economies such as Indonesia (52%), Colombia (153.7%) and India (12.4%).
“British food and drink is sought after worldwide – it is known for its high quality, innovation, and connection to our cultural heritage. It’s good to see some British products flying in overseas markets, and others holding their own in tough trading conditions,” said Karen Betts, chief executive of the FDF.
“But rising production costs, tariffs and behind‑the‑border barriers, as well as worsening household budgets in some markets, mean that real export growth continues to be challenging. Conflict in the Middle East only compounds this,” she said.
“With export volumes still far from pre‑Brexit levels, the government needs to step up and support exporters to enter and become established in global markets. The EU SPS agreement won’t be easy, with some businesses needing to reconfigure their supply chains, so ensuring that every UK food and drink business understands the regulatory changes ahead is vital – whether they trade with the EU or not.”
Food exports to members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans‑Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) also increased 7.8% in volume terms in 2025, following the UK’s accession to the trade bloc in December 2024.
