British food exports to the EU fell by £2 billion in the first quarter of 2021 according to the latest HMRC figures, due to additional non-tariff barriers following the end of the Brexit transition period, coronavirus impacts and stockpiling.
The Food and Drink Federation has warned that the problem is inherent to the new trading barriers rather than being the symptom of teething problems, describing the £2 billion fall as “disastrous” for the industry.
Compared with 2020, dairy product exports fell by more than 90%, cheese exports fell by two-thirds, and lamb and mutton exports fell by 14%.