UK food export revenues grew 13% in the first half of 2011, according to data from the Food and Drink Federation.

Sales of food and non-alcoholic drink exports increased 13.1% to GBP5.8bn (US$8.88bn), the FDF said yesterday (5 October). 

Dairy sales were up 30.5% to GBP607.2m including a 24.1% increase in cheddar exports. Sales of meat and animal products climbed 18.4%, export revenues from fish and seafood increased 15% and fruit and veg sales were up 29.6%. Cereals and bakery exports grew 3.3%. However, sugar and sugar confectionery sales fell 19%.

Exports to the EU increased by 12.6% to GBP4.4bn with the majority of markets showing growth. Sales to three of the top five biggest EU markets grew by double-digits. Sales to the Netherlands were up 27.8%, revenue from exports to Germany increased 27.8% and the value of shipments to Belgium leapt 48.5%.

Sales to North America were up 19.1%, while the value of exports to Asia increasesd 18.2%, the FDF said. China is moving to closer to the UK’s top export markets for food and non-alcoholic drinks, the FDF said. Sales to China leapt 52.5% growth in exports in the first half of the year following an increase in the demand for fish and seafood, meat and vegetables. 

Meanwhile, sales to the Middle East increased 9.4%, export revenues from sales to Africa grew 19.8% and the value of shipments to Oceania was up 12.1%.

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FDF’s director general Melanie Leech said: “It’s extremely encouraging to see such strong growth in food and drink exports despite the challenging economic climate affecting several of our key markets, particularly in the EU.

“These figures indicate that we are on track to achieve our seventh consecutive year of growth and they also illustrate that there is still a huge appetite for our products abroad.”