UK food export volumes were up 7.2% in the first half (H1) of 2025, according to the latest Trade Snapshot from The Food and Drink Federation (FDF).
In the first six months of the year, the UK exported 4.5bn kg and 590m litres of food and drink to over 200 countries around the world. This increase follows a decline in food and drink exports last year.
FDF is now calling on the government to work with industry on ambitious targets to ensure exports continue to grow, given food and drink export volumes are still more than a tenth (13%) lower than 2023 levels.
The Trade Snapshot reveals that trade with the UK’s largest partner, the EU, showed steady growth of 4.2% in value terms compared to 2024. However, export growth was largely driven by trade with non-EU countries, which increased by more than a tenth (10.6%) compared to the first half of last year.
The US had a significant impact on the trade outlook in the first half of this year. Exports of food and drink to the US increased by 18.9%, to £1.4bn. This growth continued even after the additional 10% tariff took effect, reflecting the UK’s comparatively better deal in some categories of food and drink than some other nations.
Additionally, two years on from the signing of a trade deal with New Zealand, exports to New Zealand increased by almost a fifth (19.7%) in H1. India also saw 11.6% growth. A new trade deal with India, signed in July 2025 and expected to come into force in 2026, will help build on this trend, with a removal or reduction of high Indian tariffs on selected UK food and drink exports over the next decade.
While the report shows green shoots for export growth, this follows a year of flatlining exports.
Balwinder Dhoot, Director of Growth and Sustainability, The Food and Drink Federation, 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.
“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.
“This would help give industry a much-needed boost, helping businesses to sell more world-class British food and drink around the globe.”