The worth of meals exports to the EU dropped by £2.4bn within the first 15 months after Brexit, in response to evaluation of HMRC information.
Nonetheless, total exports, which have have been hit by the double whammy of Brexit crimson tape in addition to decreased demand in hospitality as a result of pandemic in 2021, recovered within the first three months of this yr, the figures present.
Knowledge monitoring exports since 1 January 2021, when the Brexit transition yr ended, present UK meals exports dropped by 19% to £10.4bn within the 15 months to 31 March 2022. This was down from £12.8bn within the earlier 15 months, in response to the assessment of the detailed commodity information by Hazlewoods chartered accountancy agency.
The autumn was pushed by a decline in exports of perishable items, from British strawberries to cheese.
Fruit and vegetable exports took the best hit, down 44% from £1.5bn within the 15 months earlier than Brexit to £847m within the 15 months after.
Meat and fish exports fell 16%, from £3.5bn to £2.9bn, over the identical interval, whereas dairy exports additionally decreased 13% from £1.6bn to £1.4bn.
Tightening customized necessities and lengthy port delays imply many UK meals producers are not capable of ship perishable items to the EU. The rise in crimson tape and prices means it may be very tough to make a revenue exporting recent produce. “For an trade the place the UK can justifiably name itself a world chief, that may be a actual disgrace,” stated Rebecca Copping, affiliate companion at Hazlewoods.
The figures chime with these of Eurostat, the statistical workplace of the EU.
Eurostat figures put total imports to the EU from the UK falling from €169bn (£144bn) in 2020 to €146bn in 2021 – a drop of 13.6%.
The UK’s choice to go for a tough Brexit with the departure from the one market means customs declarations and proof of requirements compliance is now required on all commodities getting into the bloc.
HMRC official commentary on the primary three months of knowledge signifies that exporters are adapting their operations to the brand new boundaries.
Within the first three months of 2022, exports to Eire jumped by 67% whereas exports to France rose by 28.5% and the Netherlands 40%.
The rise in export to the Netherlands and Eire might be linked to the vitality disaster and the struggle in Ukraine, with a 50% month on month bounce in March in exports of mineral fuels to these nations.
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“The rise in exports of Mineral fuels on final month was led by the Netherlands and Eire, up £327 million (50%) and £239 million (62%) respectively. The rise on March 2021 was additionally led by the Netherlands and Eire, up £548 million (to greater than double the worth) and £435 million (to greater than 3 occasions the worth) respectively,” stated HMRC in its month-to-month commentary.
