UK agri-food exports to EU plunge over one-third since Brexit
British food and drink shipments to the EU have fallen by more than a third since the UK left the bloc, with sugar, poultry and eggs hit hardest.
New figures compiled by the National Farmers’ Union from HMRC statistics reveal that UK food and drink exports to the EU have collapsed by more than a third since the 2019 reference year. The sharpest falls were seen in sugar, down 70%, and poultry, down 53%, while egg and egg-product sales to confectionery and baking sectors dropped 65% in the first seven months of the latest year. Full-year data show egg-related exports are now 74% lower than before Brexit.
The NFU attributes the slump to extensive customs paperwork and health certifications required for every product variant, as well as bans on Scottish seed potatoes and Welsh shellfish. Politicians such as Andy Burnham are pressing for a reset of UK-EU trade rules to ease sanitary and phytosanitary checks, hoping a new agreement will restore market access for items like Scottish salmon and other fresh produce.
Why it matters
The collapse threatens UK farmers and food manufacturers, risking jobs and food-security for millions of households.
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