UK Farm Exports to EU Down Over 37% Since Brexit
Post-Brexit UK Farm Exports to EU Fall by Over a Third
Exports of British farm products to the European Union have fallen by 37.4% in the five years since 2019. This underlines the lasting structural impact of Brexit on UK agricultural trade with its largest former market.
According to analysis published by The Guardian, the sharpest declines have been recorded in the poultry and beef sectors. Poultry exports to the EU have dropped by 37.7%, while beef exports are down 23.6% compared with pre-Brexit levels. Lamb exports have fallen 14%, and dairy shipments are down 15.6% over the same period.
The figures highlight how non tariff barriers, veterinary certification requirements and border friction have fundamentally altered trade flows. Meanwhile, some costs and delays have eased since the immediate post-Brexit period. However, the data suggests that lost EU market share has proven difficult to recover.
Speaking in response to the findings, Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers’ Union, warned that simply reducing bureaucracy will not automatically restore exports.
He said many European retailers and buyers have already restructured their supply chains. They replaced British suppliers with EU-based alternatives during the initial disruption following Brexit. As a result, even modest improvements in market access may not be enough to reverse the decline.
The report comes as the UK and EU prepare for renewed engagement on agri-food trade as part of a wider “reset” in relations. In this context, fortnightly political meetings are being established to manage negotiations across farming and food policy. Additionally, a UK-EU leaders’ summit is expected in late spring or early summer 2026.
Source: The Guardian | 7 February 2026
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