National statistics

Chapter 13: Overseas trade

Updated 21 October 2022

Summary

Key results for 2021 in real terms (adjusted for inflation) and compared to 2020

• The value of food, feed and drink exports decreased by £1.2bn (5.6%) to £20.2bn.

• The value of food, feed and drink imports decreased by £2.7bn (5.5%) to £45.9bn.

• The trade gap in food, feed and drink decreased by £1.5bn (5.4%) to £25.6bn.

• Principal destinations for exports were the Irish Republic (£3.1bn), France (£2.3bn), USA (£2.0bn) and the Netherlands (£1.6bn).

• The main countries of despatch for imports into the UK were the Netherlands (£4.6bn), France (£4.1bn), Irish Republic (£3.9bn) and Spain (£3.3bn).

• Whisky continued to have the highest export value, totalling £4.6bn.

• Fresh fruit and vegetables together remained the highest value category for imports, totalling £6.1bn which was a 6.4% decrease.

• Exports of fresh vegetables fell by 35% to £73m, and exports of fresh fruit also fell by 66% to £63m.

Introduction

The Overseas Trade Statistics presented in this chapter are based on data collected by HM Revenue and Customs and are compiled from returns made by importers and exporters. Before the completion of the Single Market in the European Union at the end of 1992, all overseas trade data for the United Kingdom was compiled from Customs declarations made by traders. Since the beginning of 1993, the collection of trade statistics has been divided into two categories: that transacted between the United Kingdom and countries outside the European Union (extra-EU trade) and that between the United Kingdom and its European Union partners (intra-EU trade). Extra-EU trade statistics are compiled, as before, from Customs declarations by importers, exporters and their agents, while intra-EU trade statistics are compiled using a system linked to traders’ VAT returns, known as Intrastat. From 2022 onwards, all trade data will be compiled from Customs declarations following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.

The trade statistics shown here may not match those shown in the commodities tables in Chapter 8 where, for example, trade in meat includes the carcase weight equivalent of trade in live animals and trade in milk is of raw milk before processing, and not of processed and packaged milk and cream as shown here.

Value of trade in food, feed and drink

Figure 13.1 Value of trade in food, feed and drink at 2021 prices; United Kingdom

Enquiries: Leigh Riley on +44 (0)208 026 6332
Email: leigh.riley@defra.gov.uk

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The value of exports of food, feed and drink was £20.2bn in 2021. To compare 2021 exports with previous years, it is necessary to adjust for the effects of economic inflation. The real terms value of exports was £1.2bn or 5.6% lower in 2021 than 2020. The longer trend is of rising real terms export values. Since 2005 the real terms value of exports has risen by £6.5bn or 47%. This long-term trend is a consequence of the combination of the relative strength of sterling, proactive responses to disease related issues, and an upward trend in world commodity prices.

The value of imports of food, feed and drink was £45.9bn in 2021. To compare 2021 imports with previous years it is necessary to adjust for the effects of economic inflation. The real terms value of imports was £2.7bn or 5.5% lower in 2021 than 2020. The longer trend is of rising real terms import values. Since 2005 the real terms value of imports has risen by £13bn or 41%. The trade gap narrowed by 5.4% between 2020 and 2021. Over the longer term it has widened by 37% from £18.7bn (in 2005) to £25.6bn (in 2021) in real terms.

Looking at exports of specific food types, the largest percentage decrease in real terms occurred in the fruit & vegetables category which showed a fall of 32% to £0.9bn, followed by exports of sugar which decreased by 30% to £0.3bn. Exports of beverages increased by 9.8% to £7.0bn.

In real terms, imports of dairy and eggs decreased by 10% to £2.9bn between 2020 and 2021. Imports of meat also fell by 8.6% to £5.8bn, and imports of fruit & vegetables decreased by 9.4% to £10.5bn. Imports of oils & fats increased by 14% to £2.5bn in 2021.

Value of trade in food, feed and drink by types of commodity

Table 13.1a Value of trade in food, feed and drink at 2021 prices (£ million); United Kingdom

Enquiries: Leigh Riley on +44 (0)208 026 6332
Email: leigh.riley@defra.gov.uk

Table 13.1a Exports

ITC Division Code	Type	2019	2020	2021
Exports
01	Meat & Meat Preps	2,186	2,053	1,773
02	Dairy & Eggs	2,105	1,819	1,583
03	Fish & Fish Preps	2,124	1,638	1,626
04	Cereals & Cereal Preps	2,589	2,269	1,967
05	Fruit and Veg & Preps	1,351	1,248	852
06	Sugar & Sugar Preps	462	428	301
07	Coffee, tea, etc.	1,638	1,577	1,453
08	Animal feed	1,191	1,159	1,024
09	Misc. edible preps	2,335	2,211	1,959
11	Beverages	8,346	6,409	7,035
22 + S4	Oils/fats & Oilseeds	618	618	666
	Total	24,946	21,429	20,240

Table 13.1a Imports

ITC Division Code	Type	2019	2020	2021
Imports
01	Meat & Meat Preps	7,058	6,321	5,779
02	Dairy & Eggs	3,535	3,270	2,932
03	Fish & Fish Preps	3,662	3,250	3,131
04	Cereals & Cereal Preps	4,508	4,509	4,246
05	Fruit and Veg & Preps	12,216	11,550	10,460
06	Sugar & Sugar Preps	1,273	1,133	1,179
07	Coffee, tea, etc.	4,033	3,963	3,536
08	Animal feed	2,579	2,566	2,643
09	Misc. edible preps	3,672	3,704	3,181
11	Beverages	6,360	6,006	6,217
22+S4	Oils/fats & Oilseeds	2,031	2,235	2,548
	Total	50,926	48,507	45,852

Source: HMRC

Notes:

1. 2021 figures are provisional and subject to revision

Download the full Overseas trade dataset.

Table 13.1b Value of trade in food, feed and drink with EU countries at 2021 prices (£ million); United Kingdom

Enquiries: Leigh Riley on +44 (0)208 026 6332
Email: leigh.riley@defra.gov.uk

Table 13.1b Exports

SITC Division Code	Type	2019	2020	2021
Exports
01	Meat	1,626	1,434	1,183
02	Dairy	1,591	1,369	1,144
03	Fish	1,428	1,225	1,163
04	Cereals	1,845	1,539	1,289
05	Fruit and Veg	1,045	960	586
06	Sugar	325	262	188
07	Coffee, tea, etc.	1,177	1,128	959
08	Animal feed	783	723	582
09	Misc.	1,474	1,374	1,136
11	Drink	3,152	2,576	2,559
22 + S4	Oils	536	536	492
	Total	14,984	13,127	11,280

Table 13.1b Imports

SITC Division Code	Type	2019	2020	2021
Imports
01	Meat	5,854	5,264	4,783
02	Dairy	3,491	3,222	2,877
03	Fish	1,293	1,133	758
04	Cereals	3,518	3,540	3,222
05	Fruit and Veg	7,851	7,354	6,095
06	Sugar	861	714	701
07	Coffee, tea, etc.	2,818	2,789	2,276
08	Animal feed	1,463	1,564	1,440
09	Misc.	2,963	2,991	2,468
11	Drink	4,669	4,345	4,666
22+S4	Oils	1,132	1,126	1,196
	Total	35,913	34,041	30,483

Source: HMRC

Notes:

1. Figures for 2021 are provisional and subject to revision.

Download the full Overseas trade dataset.

Table 13.1c Value of trade in food, feed and drink with non-EU countries at 2021 prices (£ million); United Kingdom

Enquiries: Leigh Riley on +44 (0)208 026 6332
Email: leigh.riley@defra.gov.uk

Table 13.1c Exports

SITC Division Code	Type	2019	2020	2021
Exports
01	Meat	560	619	590
02	Dairy	515	450	439
03	Fish	696	413	463
04	Cereals	744	730	678
05	Fruit and Veg	306	288	267
06	Sugar	137	166	112
07	Coffee, tea, etc.	460	449	494
08	Animal feed	408	435	443
09	Misc.	861	837	823
11	Drink	5,194	3,832	4,476
22 + S4	Oils	82	83	174
	Total	9,962	8,303	8,960

Table 13.1c Imports

SITC Division Code	Type	2019	2020	2021
Imports
01	Meat	1,204	1,057	995
02	Dairy	44	49	55
03	Fish	2,369	2,117	2,372
04	Cereals	990	969	1,024
05	Fruit and Veg	4,365	4,196	4,366
06	Sugar	412	419	478
07	Coffee, tea, etc.	1,215	1,174	1,260
08	Animal feed	1,116	1,002	1,203
09	Misc.	709	713	713
11	Drink	1,691	1,661	1,552
22+S4	Oils	899	1,109	1,351
	Total	15,013	14,466	15,369

Source: HMRC

Notes: (tables 13.1a, 13.1b and 13.1c)

Defra’s aggregate ‘Food, Feed and Drink’ is composed of the following divisions from the Standard International Trade Classification:

1. Figures for 2021 are provisional and subject to revision.

2. Meat [01]: meat from cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, poultry, horses etc.; preparations including blood, juices, sausages, livers, offal.

3. Dairy [02]: includes milk (skimmed or otherwise), butter, buttermilk, cream, yoghurt, ice cream, whey, cheese and curd, all types of eggs both in and out of shell.

4. Fish [03]: All types of edible marine life excluding mammals, fresh, frozen, processed, prepared or preserved.

5. Cereals [04]: includes rice, wheat, barley, oats, maize, grain sorghum and preparations including sweet biscuits, waffles, gingerbread, and uncooked/unstuffed pasta.

6. Fruit and vegetables [05]: includes fresh, frozen or prepared fruit (except crystallised) and vegetables, nuts (except groundnuts), vegetable and fruit juices of all kinds except wine (see division 11), jams, marmalades, fruit or nut puree/paste etc.

7. Sugar [06]: includes both natural sugar and sugar confectionery (but not chocolate or cocoa), both natural and artificial honey, and liquorice.

8. Coffee, tea, etc. [07]: includes all types of tea, coffee (e.g. green, decaffeinated), extracts and substitutes thereof; cocoa and chocolate (of all kinds): all kinds of spices.

9. Animal feed [08]: includes hay, fodder, bran, sharps and other residues derived from cereals or leguminous plants, oil-cake and other solid residues, other residues, brewing dregs, all types of pet or animal food.

10. Miscellaneous [09]: includes margarine, shortening, homogenised products or preparations not elsewhere specified, sauces, vinegar, soups, yeasts, cooked/stuffed pasta, food preparations for infant use.

11. Beverages [11]: includes alcoholic drinks of all kinds; also natural or artificial mineral and aerated waters sweetened or otherwise.

12. Oils [22+S4]: includes groundnuts (peanuts), soya beans, sunflower seeds, rape seeds, palm nuts, linseed, poppy seeds etc., lard, pig fat, olive oil, rape oil, corn oil, linseed oil, beeswax etc.

13. Division 00, which covers all live animals, is excluded from the aggregate ‘Food, Feed and Drink’ because it includes non-food animals, particularly race horses. S4 stands for Section 4 in the SITC and covers animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes.

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Total value of trade in food, feed and drink by trading partner

Figure 13.2 Exports of food, feed and drink by country of destination 2021; United Kingdom

Enquiries: Leigh Riley on +44 (0)208 026 6332
Email: leigh.riley@defra.gov.uk

Country	£ million
Irish Republic	3,073
France	2,293
U.S.A.	1,965
Netherlands	1,581
Germany	867
China	803
Belgium	596
Spain	560
Poland	409
Australia	406

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Figure 13.3 Imports of food, feed and drink by country of dispatch 2021; United Kingdom

Enquiries: Leigh Riley on +44 (0)208 026 6332
Email: leigh.riley@defra.gov.uk

Country	£ million
Netherlands	4,609
France	4,133
Irish Republic	3,898
Spain	3,265
Germany	3,121
Italy	3,051
Belgium	2,804
Poland	2,117
U.S.A.	1,207
Denmark	1,122

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Value of exports and imports by degree of processing

Trade in food, feed and drink covers a wide range of products from raw agricultural commodities through lightly processed foods such as meat, cheese and butter, powdered milk, flour and sugar to highly processed products such as confectionery, canned meats, jams, alcoholic drinks and ice cream. By grouping foods into unprocessed, lightly processed and highly processed, additional insights in trading patterns can be found.

Figure 13.4 Exports in food, feed and drink by degree of processing at 2021 prices; United Kingdom

Enquiries: Leigh Riley on +44 (0)208 026 6332
Email: leigh.riley@defra.gov.uk

Download the full Overseas trade dataset.

Exports of highly processed foods such as confectionery, canned meats, jams, alcoholic drinks and ice cream, fell by 5.2% in real term value between 2012 and 2021. Exports of lightly processed food and drink, i.e. goods that retain their raw recognisable form, such as meat, cheese, butter and oils & fats fell by 2.4% in real term value between 2012 and 2021. Exports of unprocessed commodities, such as fresh fruit & vegetables, nuts, un-milled cereal and eggs fell by 26% in real term value between 2012 and 2021.

Figure 13.5 Imports in food, feed and drink by degree of processing at 2021 prices; United Kingdom

Enquiries: Leigh Riley on +44 (0)208 026 6332
Email: leigh.riley@defra.gov.uk

Download the full Overseas trade dataset.

Imports of highly processed foods increased by 5.9% in real term value between 2012 and 2021. Imports of lightly processed food and drink decreased by 5.1% in real term value between 2012 and 2021. Imports of unprocessed commodities increased by 17% in real term value between 2012 and 2021.

Value and volume of trade in key commodities

The value of exports across a range of different commodities has broadly increased year on year in recent times. However, in 2014 and 2015, commodity prices for many sectors fell, due to a slowdown of global economic markets and the effect of exchange rates. Subsequent years have seen a return to export growth in most of the main product groups. However the effect of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 affected both trade and the economy.

The value of exports of whisky, which represents the highest valued individual food, feed and drink item, increased by 18% in real terms to £4.6bn in 2021. It is 11% lower than in 2012 in real terms. Exports of salmon increased by 20% to £729m, and were 39% higher than 2012 in real terms. The value of exports of unmilled wheat decreased by 31% in real terms to £64 million in 2021. Exports of cheese also decreased by 14% in real terms to £565 million.

Imports of fresh fruit and fresh vegetables decreased by 6.4% in real terms to £6.1bn. Despite the slight decrease, the range, quality and consumer awareness of healthy eating options remains high. Imports of unmilled wheat increased by 13% in real terms to £471m in reaction to reduced domestic supplies.

The value of wine imports in 2021, a high value commodity, increased by 1.3% in real terms on 2020, to £3.5bn, whereas the value of wine exported from the UK decreased by 11% in real terms to £468m.

The overall volume of exports of food, feed and drink in 2021 decreased by 19% to 10.9 billion tonnes. The long term trend for the volume of exports has been slightly upwards year-on-year, however, the recent economic slowdown followed by the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a slowdown of exports. Import volumes have been increasing more rapidly over recent years, and the volume of imports of 39.9 billion tonnes in 2021 was 12% higher than 2012.

The food, feed and drink Index provides a comparison of trade which accounts for the value density of different food groups. For example, high value per tonne exports (e.g. whisky) are given more weight in this indicator than low value per tonne exports (e.g. wheat and barley). According to the index, food, feed and drink exports in 2021 decreased by 9.2% on the previous year, while imports decreased by 6.9%.

Table 13.2a and 13.2b Trade in key commodities in real terms at 2021 prices (£ million); United Kingdom

Enquiries: Leigh Riley on +44 (0)208 026 6332
Email: leigh.riley@defra.gov.uk

Table 13.2a Exports

Commodity	2019	2020	2021
Whisky	5,307	3,925	4,638
Wine	693	526	468
Cheese	748	657	565
Poultry meat	319	297	228
Poultry meat products	129	111	72
Beef and veal	489	385	365
Wheat, unmilled	193	93	64
Lamb and mutton	421	440	438
Pork	413	423	339
Breakfast cereals	510	520	482
Milk and cream	351	286	286
Bacon and ham	71	50	32
Butter	271	188	184
Eggs and egg products	118	116	100
Fresh vegetables	136	112	73
Fresh fruit	165	186	63
Salmon (inc. smoked)	869	607	729

Table 13.2b Imports

Commodity	2019	2020	2021
Whisky	202	197	179
Wine	3,708	3,484	3,531
Cheese	1,827	1,718	1,464
Poultry meat	1,299	991	970
Poultry meat products	1,223	1,134	942
Beef and veal	1,057	992	1,115
Wheat, unmilled	263	416	471
Lamb and mutton	331	316	265
Pork	1,014	893	695
Breakfast cereals	338	323	227
Milk and cream	148	122	178
Bacon and ham	600	526	490
Butter	307	243	211
Eggs and egg products	166	175	131
Fresh vegetables	2,715	2,560	2,370
Fresh fruit	4,110	3,961	3,733
Salmon (inc. smoked)	638	500	639

Source: HMRC

Notes: See notes for table 13.3

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Table 13.3a and 13.3b Trade in key commodities by volume (thousand tonnes unless otherwise specified); United Kingdom

Enquiries: Leigh Riley on +44 (0)208 026 6332
Email: leigh.riley@defra.gov.uk

Table 13.3a Exports

Commodity	2019	2020	2021
Whisky (million litres pure alcohol)	382	330	396
Wine (million litres)	102	93	36
Cheese	209	193	154
Poultry meat	393	452	352
Poultry meat products	37	30	21
Beef and veal	136	117	103
Wheat, unmilled	1,116	520	294
Lamb and mutton	95	88	70
Pork	245	260	193
Breakfast cereals	191	218	172
Milk an cream	863	792	757
Bacon and ham	19	14	10
Butter	69	61	52
Eggs and egg products	93	32	34
Fresh vegetables	143	108	69
Fresh fruit	162	178	37
Salmon (inc. smoked)	124	97	116
Food, feed and drink index, 2009=100	131	119	108

Table 13.3b Imports

Commodity	2019	2020	2021
Whisky (million litres pure alcohol)	19	20	21
Wine (million litres)	1,430	1,485	1,375
Cheese	538	499	409
Poultry meat	478	416	408
Poultry meat products	383	362	324
Beef and veal	254	249	253
Wheat, unmilled	1,222	2,133	2,060
Lamb and mutton	63	59	47
Pork	453	388	336
Breakfast cereals	151	150	103
Milk and cream	229	220	343
Bacon and ham	195	171	174
Butter	79	79	57
Eggs and egg products	87	80	68
Fresh vegetables	2,356	2,213	1,978
Fresh fruit	3,657	3,564	3,327
Salmon (inc. smoked)	93	82	110
Food, feed and drink index, 2009=100)	122	121	113

Source: HMRC

Notes: (Tables 13.2 and 13.3)

1. Figures for 2021 are provisional and subject to revision

2. Whisky includes bourbon, scotch (malted and blended) and other whiskies.

3. Wine includes grape must, vermouth and wine of fresh grapes (sparkling and still).

4. Cheese includes grated or powdered, processed, blue-veined and fresh (e.g. curd).

5. Poultrymeat (inc. poultry offal) includes carcase meat, cuts and offal (inc. liver).

6. Poultry meat products includes prepared, preserved, salted or cooked poultrymeat and offal (inc. liver).

7. Beef and veal includes carcase meat and cuts, both bone-in and boneless.

8. Wheat, unmilled includes durum, other wheat (inc. spelt) and meslin.

9. Lamb and mutton includes carcase meat and cuts, both bone-in and boneless.

10. Pork includes carcase meat and cuts, both bone-in and boneless.

11. Breakfast cereals includes cereal grains worked or prepared for breakfast cereals

12. Milk and cream includes milk (inc. skimmed milk) and cream, not concentrated or sweetened.

13. Fresh vegetables excludes potatoes, dried legumes and processed vegetables.

14. Fresh fruit excludes jams, juices, dried and processed fruit.

15. Salmon (inc. smoked) includes fresh, chilled, frozen or smoked, but not canned.

16. Note: Definitions of ‘fresh vegetables’ and ‘fresh fruit’ used have been revised in 2009 to be consistent with those used for AUK Chapter 5.

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