UK Food Exports to EU Fall by a Third Since Brexit

British food and drink exports to the European Union have fallen by more than a third since Brexit, with sugar, poultry, eggs and horticultural products among the hardest-hit sectors, according to an analysis by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU).

The figures, based on official HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) data, highlight the challenges facing British food producers as they navigate additional paperwork, certification requirements and trade barriers when exporting to the UK’s largest trading partner.

Sugar, Poultry and Egg Exports Suffer Sharp Declines

NFU analysis comparing the seven months to July with the same period in 2019 found that sugar exports to the EU had dropped by 70%. Poultry exports declined by 53%, while exports of eggs and egg products used in confectionery and baking fell by 65% over the same period.

The decline in egg-related exports was even more pronounced in the full-year figures. Data covering 2019 to 2025 showed that exports of eggs and egg products had fallen by 74%.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said the EU remained essential to Britain’s agricultural trade, accounting for 68% of the country’s agri-food exports in the previous year. However, he warned that trade volumes had fallen by more than a third since 2019.

The figures underline concerns among farmers and food businesses about the practical consequences of the UK’s departure from the EU, particularly for industries that depend on regular cross-border shipments of fresh and processed agricultural products.

Brexit Paperwork Adds Costs for Food Exporters

The UK formally left the European Union in 2020, and Boris Johnson’s government agreed on the country’s future trading and security relationship with the bloc later that year. Since the end of the transition period, exporters have faced additional customs procedures and regulatory requirements.

Food businesses have repeatedly complained about the administrative burden involved in sending products to EU markets. Exporters must complete customs documentation, including product-specific codes, while certain goods also require health certification to demonstrate compliance with disease-control rules.

The requirements can apply to numerous variations of a single product. Egg exports, for example, may involve different classifications depending on whether the eggs are fresh, dried, steamed, shelled or contain added water or sugar.

Certification requirements can also extend beyond the food itself. Paper pulp used to manufacture egg cartons may require health certification alongside the eggs, adding another layer of complexity to the export process.

For producers operating on tight margins, delays and administrative costs can make cross-border trade more difficult, particularly when shipments involve perishable goods that must reach their destination quickly.

Seed Potato and Horticultural Exports Also Hit

Britain’s horticultural industry has also experienced significant disruption. Horticultural exports have fallen by more than 50%, while seed potatoes from the UK, mainly produced in Scotland, remain banned from the EU because negotiators failed to agree on equivalent standards under the 2020 Brexit trade and cooperation agreement.

Before Brexit, Scotland exported approximately 20,000 tonnes of seed potatoes to European markets annually, worth almost £11 million. The loss of that market has left producers without an important destination for their crops.

Speaking in Parliament earlier this week, Andy Burnham highlighted the impact of additional trade barriers, warning that entire truckloads of plants or fresh produce could be destroyed because of a missing stamp or a minor paperwork delay.

Burnham said the UK should seek a positive outcome from upcoming talks to reset relations with the EU. He called for an agreement that would remove many of the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks introduced after Brexit, particularly those affecting fresh agricultural products.

UK-EU Reset Talks Could Ease Agricultural Trade Barriers

Burnham also pointed to the challenges facing other British food exporters. He said Scottish salmon faced document checks on every shipment at the border, costing the industry an estimated £100 million in lost exports.

He added that British burgers and other fresh meat products could not be sold in the EU, while seed potatoes from Scotland and shellfish from Wales were subject to bans. According to Burnham, a new agreement could reverse some of the damage caused by these restrictions.

A deal to ease SPS checks was largely agreed in May, giving food producers time to prepare for changes expected to take effect next summer. However, important details still need to be finalised before businesses can fully assess the benefits.

The proposed changes are intended to reduce regulatory obstacles affecting trade in food, plants and other agricultural products. Their final scope and implementation arrangements will determine how much additional access British producers regain to European markets.

NFU Calls for Transition Period for British Farmers

The NFU is also pressing the government to secure transition arrangements for certain UK crops grown using fungicides or breeding techniques that have not yet received approval in the EU.

The organisation wants farmers harvesting crops during autumn and winter to be able to benefit from the new export arrangements when they are introduced next year, rather than face further disruption because of differences between British and EU rules.

Bradshaw said British farmers and growers needed continued access to precision-breeding technologies that could strengthen food resilience against extreme weather. He also stressed the importance of science-based plant protection products to protect crops grown for approximately 29 million households from pests and diseases.

He said any changes to the rules should include an appropriate transition period to minimise disruption for agricultural businesses. The NFU intends to continue raising these concerns with the government while negotiations over the final agreement proceed.

Exporters Await Final Details of EU Trade Agreement

The sharp declines in food and drink exports have intensified calls for the UK government to address the trade barriers facing agricultural producers. The EU remains a major market for British food, but exporters continue to face costs and restrictions that were not part of the previous trading arrangements.

The proposed UK-EU agreement could reduce some of these obstacles, particularly if it simplifies health checks and certification requirements for fresh produce. However, the final terms, transition arrangements and implementation timetable will be crucial for businesses planning their next export seasons.

For British farmers and food manufacturers, the priority is to secure practical changes that make European trade easier while maintaining access to the technologies and products needed to protect crops and support long-term food production.