United kingdom foods exports to EU fell 19% in 15 months just after Brexit, clearly show figures

The benefit of food exports to the EU dropped by £2.4bn in the very first 15 months soon after Brexit, in accordance to analysis of HMRC information.

Nonetheless, general exports, which had been hit by the double whammy of Brexit purple tape as very well as reduced need in hospitality due to the pandemic in 2021, recovered in the first a few months of this yr, the figures present.

Info tracking exports considering the fact that 1 January 2021, when the Brexit changeover 12 months ended, show British isles food exports dropped by 19% to £10.4bn in the 15 months to 31 March 2022.

This was down from £12.8bn in the earlier 15 months, in accordance to the overview of the thorough commodity info by Hazlewoods chartered accountancy agency.

The fall was driven by a drop in exports of perishable items, from British strawberries to cheese.

Fruit and vegetable exports took the finest hit, down 44% from £1.5bn in the 15 months before Brexit to £847m in the 15 months right after.

Meat and fish exports fell 16%, from £3.5bn to £2.9bn, in excess of the very same period of time, when dairy exports also lowered 13% from £1.6bn to £1.4bn.

Tightening tailor made requirements and lengthy port delays suggest numerous United kingdom food stuff producers are no for a longer time equipped to mail perishable items to the EU. The increase in red tape and prices means it can be pretty tricky to make a profit exporting contemporary produce.

“For an business in which the British isles can justifiably simply call alone a planet leader, that is a genuine disgrace,” claimed Rebecca Copping, associate partner at Hazlewoods.

The figures chime with all those of Eurostat, the statistical workplace of the EU.

Eurostat figures set overall imports to the EU from the United kingdom slipping from €169bn (£144bn) in 2020 to €146bn in 2021 – a fall of 13.6%.

The UK’s final decision to choose for a difficult Brexit with the departure from the solitary industry means customs declarations and proof of benchmarks compliance is now demanded on all commodities getting into the bloc.

HMRC official commentary on the 1st a few months of details signifies that exporters are adapting their operations to the new obstacles.

In the first three months of 2022, exports to the Republic of Ireland jumped by 67% although exports to France rose by 28.5% and the Netherlands 40%.

HMRC data for exports for the first three months of 2022. Photograph: HMRC

The enhance in export to the Netherlands and Eire could be connected to the electrical power disaster and the war in Ukraine, with a 50% month-on-thirty day period bounce in March in exports of mineral fuels to people nations around the world.

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HMRC mentioned in its month to month commentary: “The raise in exports of mineral fuels on very last thirty day period was led by the Netherlands and Eire, up £327m (50%) and £23m (62%) respectively.

“The boost on March 2021 was also led by the Netherlands and Eire, up £548m (to additional than double the price) and £435m (to far more than a few instances the value) respectively.”