UK food and non-alcoholic drink exports rose to £6.5bn in the first six months of the year, according to a report released today by the Food and Drink Federation which is an increase of 4.8% on the same period in 2013.
Exports performed well in both EU and non-EU markets, with an increase of 12%, and an increase of 2.5% in the EU, despite pressures such as stronger sterling and falling EU GDP working against British exporters.
FDF’s latest survey also found that the food and non-alcoholic drink trade balance improved by 4.9% to a deficit of £12bn, which was welcome news in contrast to the trade balance for all UK products worsening by 84% in the first half of 2014.
Including alcoholic drinks, total food and drink exports were down 0.5% on 2013, mainly due to a decline in whisky exports as growth slowed in Asia and other leading markets.