UK food and drink exports hit record £10.6bn in six months

UK food and drink exports reached a record high this summer.

The value of victuals shipped overseas hit £10.6bn in the first six months of 2018 as food and drink businesses sold their products in more than 200 countries.

Barbeque produce like sausages and cuts of beef saw a rise of 48% and 17% respectively, partly due to new meat export markets opening in recent years.

The Government is forecasting strong growth in this area, with China preparing to lift its BSE ban on British beef – a move that could generate £250m in the next five years.

Similarly, Taiwan will soon be importing UK pork for the first time, which will be worth around £5m over five years.

Seasonal favourites were in demand abroad. In the six months to June, 64 million litres of British ice cream and more than 500 tonnes of strawberries were shipped overseas.

Firms here exported whisky worth £2bn, beer worth £235m and smoked salmon worth £308m during the period.

George Eustice, Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, said: “Consumers across the globe know British produce is delicious. They also know it is high in quality and backed by high standards of animal welfare.

“This is why we are continuing to see a huge growth in the worldwide demand for the best of what British farmers and food producers have to offer.”

He continued: “This world-leading industry already boosts our economy by over £110bn each year, and leaving the EU will give our food and drink producers an unparalleled opportunity to tap into more markets and take advantage of the UK’s position as a truly global nation.”

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