The National Farmers' Union analysis of UK customs data reveals a sharp contraction in British food and drink exports to the European Union since Brexit. Exports to the EU, Britain's largest trading partner for these goods, fell by more than a third in the year to July compared with the same period in 2019.
The NFU examined HMRC data and found severe declines across specific categories. Sugar exports fell 70% over the period. Egg product exports dropped 74%. The analysis also identifies eggs, chicken and potato producers as particularly affected by the trade shift.
The figures emerge as Britain negotiates its post-Brexit trade relationship with the EU, where new regulatory and customs requirements have added friction to shipments. Food and drink remain among Britain's largest export categories by volume, and the EU accounts for a substantial share of that market.
The scale of the decline raises questions about the long-term competitiveness of British agricultural producers in their traditional markets. Producers face additional compliance costs, documentation requirements and tariffs that their counterparts in EU member states do not. Smaller suppliers report that the administrative burden has made EU sales uneconomical for lower-margin products.
The NFU has previously called for improved trade terms with the EU and streamlined customs procedures to help British farmers rebuild export volumes. The organisation has also pointed to labour shortages in UK agriculture and elevated input costs as additional headwinds for the sector.