The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has published analysis showing that in the first quarter of 2019, food and drink exports increased by 10.7% (y-o-y) to £5.8bn, almost twice the growth rate of Q1 2018 (+6.3%) and the biggest first quarter sales value on record.
Within that, Q1 2019 food and drink export growth to non-EU markets (+12.2%) outpaced growth to EU markets (+9.9%). This was also the case for exports of branded goods.
Growth of more than 20% was recorded in six of the UK’s top 20 food and drink export markets, with Japan recording the highest growth rate at 52.5%.
Exports of all of the top 10 products increased by value in Q1 2019, the strongest being salmon with growth of 40.9%.
Over the past 10 years, UK branded goods exports have increased by 110%.
Brexit uncertainty
While Q1 exports have shown positive results, feedback received by FDF from businesses at recent trade fairs shows that key buyers in some of the top 20 markets are no longer willing to buy from UK exporters due to ongoing Brexit uncertainty.
This is said to possibly have a significant impact on food and drink export figures later in 2019.
The Food and Drink Sector Council Exports Working Group, led by Graham Hutcheon, managing director, Edrington, aims to drive a step-change in food and drink exports through a range of activities.
This includes supporting the successful launch of a Food and Drink Sector Deal.
Through the Food and Drink Sector Deal, five target markets (China, the Gulf region, the USA, Japan, and India) have been identified as offering significant growth potential for UK food and drink.
Saudi Arabia was also the 11th biggest buyer of UK branded goods, recording growth of 82%, driven by exports of breakfast cereals, chocolate and sweet biscuits.
Ian Wright CBE.
The top five UK products sold to Saudi Arabia in Q1 were oats, breakfast cereals, chocolate, sweet biscuits and eggs.
Ian Wright CBE, chief executive, Food and Drink Federation, said: “The food and drink industry continues to out-perform expectations, delivering another quarter of exceptional exports growth despite the damaging uncertainty with which businesses have to contend.
“The rapid growth to Saudi Arabia, a key target market in FDF’s Food and Drink Sector Deal proposals, is just one example of this strength.
“With the right support in place our industry could deliver so much more. We urge Government to co-invest in our Sector Deal proposals and help us to provide the support our industry urgently needs to further enhance this growth.”
The full exports report, including supporting information about Q1 2019 food and drink exports, and exports reports from previous quarters can be found here.
