UK food and drink exports up 11.4%

Driven by strong growth in new and emerging markets UK exports of food and non-alcoholic drinks in 2011 increased by 11.4% to £12.15bn from 2010, according to a new report by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

Statistics show that the share of EU in the total export value was 77%, while non-EU accounted for the rest.

Among the EU countries, Ireland remained the biggest importer of food and drink from the UK, with sales of more than 8% (£2.9bn), followed by France with £1.4bn, and the Netherlands with £1.2bn.

Exports to Belgium and Germany registered 29.9% and 15% growth, respectively. Established non-EU markets also registered good growth, with exports to the US soaring by 25%.

China entered into the top 20 export destinations for the first time, with exports up 55% from the previous year, partly due to westernised diet. Exports to South Korea and Hong Kong increased 37% and 41%, respectively.

The highest percentage rise in exports was seen in fish fillets (32%), beef (32%), milk and cream (20%), lamb (20%) and cheese (18%).

Chocolate, the biggest value added product in the UK, showed a 16% rise in exports, while prepared foods, sweet biscuits and soft drinks too saw a double digit growth.

Some of the sectors such as breakfast cereals have been able to reverse the declines in the previous years, as companies expanded their exports to non-EU markets.

The food and non-alcoholic drinks industry and the UK government jointly launched an exports action plan recently to work together to increase export potential and remove barriers.

FDF director general Melanie Leech said the companies understand the importance of developing new markets, competing successfully in many cases against other experienced exporters in France, Germany and Spain.

"We were delighted to work with Government on the export action plan launched earlier this year, which should be of benefit in particular to SMEs which are by far the biggest sector of our industry and have the potential to grow in existing and emerging markets," Leech added.

FDF represents the food and drink manufacturing (FDM) industry in the UK.

 

Image: The highest percentage rises in UK exports were seen in fish fillets, beef, milk and cream, lamb and cheese. Photo: lyzadanger