Export volumes of British food and drink to the European Union have experienced a significant decline in the period following the country’s departure from the bloc. Analysis by the National Farmers’ Union examining Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs data reveals a sharp reduction in shipments during the year ending in July compared to the equivalent period in 2019. Sugar has been hit particularly hard with a 70% decrease, while poultry exports fell 53% and eggs and egg products destined for confectionery and baking industries dropped 65% during the same timeframe. Full-year data spanning 2019 to 2025 showed even steeper declines, with eggs and egg products down 74% overall. The EU remains the country’s primary trading partner for agricultural and food products, representing 68% of all such exports in the previous year, yet overall trade volumes have contracted by more than a third since 2019.
Exporters have identified substantial administrative burdens as a primary source of the decline. Since the departure, all food shipments require customs documentation with distinct classifications for individual product variations. The horticultural sector has faced particular challenges, with seed potatoes from Scotland, which historically represented approximately 20,000 tonnes valued at nearly £11 million annually, now banned from EU markets after negotiators failed to establish mutually acceptable standards during initial trade discussions. Altogether, horticultural exports have fallen more than 50%.
Government officials are pursuing negotiations to address these trade impediments. A preliminary accord addressing sanitary and phytosanitary checks was substantially finalized in May, with implementation anticipated for the following summer. A member of parliament noted earlier this week that Scottish salmon faces 100% document verification rates at borders, resulting in approximately £100 million in lost exports, while fresh meat products and shellfish are similarly prohibited. The National Farmers’ Union is advocating for transition periods to allow crops cultivated with currently unapproved fungicides or breeding methods time to transition under new export frameworks expected next year.
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