UK food and drink export volumes rebounded in the first half of 2025, with a return to growth in the EU in the second quarter and double-digit gains to the US.
Figures from trade body The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) showed total volumes rose 7.2% to 4.5bn kilograms in the opening six months of the year and climbed 0.6% to 590m litres. However, the industry body emphasised that overall volumes remain 13% below 2023 levels.
In value terms, UK food and beverage exports reached £12.4bn ($16.5bn) in H1, up 6.8% year-on-year. When alcohol is excluded, exports amounted to £8.9bn, an increase of 8.4%.
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Food and drinks shipments to the EU, the UK’s largest trading partner, rose 4.2% in value to £7.1bn. Exports to non-EU countries climbed 10.6% to £5.3bn.
There was a notable 18.9% increase to the US to £1.4bn, despite the additional 10% tariff imposed in April, the FDF said, which, it said, reflects “the UK’s comparatively better deal in some categories of food and drink than some other nations”.
Balwinder Dhoot, the FDF’s director of growth and sustainability, said: “It’s positive to see an increase in export volumes compared with last year, and now we need to go further. Government and industry can work together to use this as a springboard to turbocharge export growth.”
The industry body warned that US tariffs will continue to have an impact in H2 and called for efforts to secure rates on products where UK tariffs are higher than EU competitors such as chocolate, ice cream and soft drinks.
With retaliatory measures constraining US exporters to markets including Mexico, Canada and China, the FDF said it sees near-term openings for UK suppliers to fill supply gaps.
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By GlobalDataElsewhere, exports to New Zealand rose 19.7% two years after the Australia–New Zealand trade deal took effect, while shipments to Australia were “broadly stable”.
Exports to India grew 11.6% to £148.7m.
A UK–India free trade agreement signed in July 2025 is expected to reduce or remove selected Indian tariffs in 2026, potentially accelerating growth over the next decade, the FDF said.
Meanwhile, imports to the UK rose 5.5% to £32.8bn, supported by beef, chocolate and fish.
Non-EU imports climbed 15.1%, to £10.5bn, increasing their share of total imports by 2.7 percentage points to 32.1%; Canada and China led with 39% and 17.5% growth, respectively.
The FDF framed the first-half trade performance as “green shoots” following a year of flatlining exports, and urged government to partner with “industry to seize this trade growth and ensure it continues”.
It also highlighted export momentum to Turkey, where UK shipments jumped 68.6% in H1 to a “record” £201.3m and underscored the potential from an updated UK–Turkey free trade agreement.
Beyond bilateral deals, the FDF reiterated the value of a comprehensive trade pact with the Gulf Cooperation Council, citing “high” regional demand for UK products.
It also pressed for a new sanitary and phytosanitary agreement with the EU to cut costly checks and certification.
Pending any agreement, the group urged clear guidance and phased transitions to reduce border friction.
Dhoot concluded: “We want to work with government to create a clear and ambitious target to boost the UK’s overseas food and drink sales, with a long-term plan to help us hit it.
“£This could include improving access to global markets like Turkey and Mexico, ensuring the smooth implementation of an EU SPS agreement, bringing down US tariffs where they’re higher than those paid by the EU, and supporting businesses that want to trade with new markets.”
