Speaking at the annual PTF dinner in London, director general Rod Addy, who is also chair of the Dairy Export Task Force, highlighted the importance of the dairy sector.
Rod Addy, PTF director general, said: “Around the world right now we know that the appetite for high quality dairy produce is increasing.
“The tastes that the world desires are more sophisticated than ever and with dairy delivering some of the greatest flavours with the most healthy and natural products available, now is the time to recognise that as an industry, we are at our best when we are at our boldest.
“That is why now is the time to commit to grow our contribution to the world to £4.5 billion by 2036. That is why now is the time to double our exports in a decade.”
Research from the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (ADHB) showed that the total UK dairy export volume for 2025 increased by 9.1% to 1.35 Mt year-on-year, with higher volumes across all categories.
Addy continued: “Evidence from the AHDB tells us that dairy exports were worth £2.18 billion in 2025. We know this is driven by value growth in multiple dairy categories and therefore as we look to the next decade, we can see a continued trend where there will be a continued demand from emerging markets.
“Our wonderful and entrepreneurial dairy producers bring not only great taste to the world but natural ingredients such as calcium, protein, vitamins and minerals. They are in the perfect place to double exports and make a continued and sustainable impact on what the world eats in the next decade.”
Pork exports to grow in years to come
PTF said it would back its UK pork members to grow their annual exports from £492 million to £600 million in the next decade as it aimed to “power up pork”. It follows a campaign launched by the Food and Drink Exporters Association, which was aimed at growing UK food and drink exports to £35 billion by the year 2035.
Addy continued: “Even though the announcement of the long-awaited SPS agreement has been postponed to later in the year, there is no reason why the Government can’t get behind this campaign in our work to break down barriers to trade and do what is needed to place the UK’s dairy and pork offering at the heart of what the world imports from the UK.”
PTF said that in the second half of 2026, it would be rolling out services that have a “laser-like focus” on exports. This will include a specialised hub on its website, links to nationwide and Government resources, buyer’s events, specialised webinars with industry figures and personalised sessions with trade attaches from around the world.
“Let us recognise that over the last few years the UK dairy sector and pork sectors have bravely and boldly faced some of the biggest economic challenges.”
Rod Addy said: “We know that campaigns of this importance and of this influence will require our members to have the foundations in place to break down the barriers of exporting to the world.
“We see our role as matching buyers with UK suppliers and paving the way for the renaissance of our dairy and pork products being the products of choice around the globe. Let us recognise that over the last few years the UK dairy sector and pork sectors have bravely and boldly faced some of the biggest economic challenges.
“They have worked through those challenges with determination, hard work and an entrepreneurial spirit. We’ll be working together to double dairy exports in a decade and power up pork, to deliver a legacy for years to come.”
