Post-Brexit UK farm exports to EU fall 37 percent
Exports of British farm products to the European Union have fallen sharply since the UK left the bloc, with sales down nearly 40% over the past five years. New analysis highlights the long-term impact of Brexit-related trade barriers on the UK’s agricultural sector.
According to data from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) analysed by the National Farmers’ Union, exports of British farm goods to the EU dropped by 37.4% between 2019—the last full year before Brexit—and 2024. The decline affects a wide range of products, from British beef and lamb to cheddar cheese and poultry.
Poultry and Beef Exports Hit Hardest
The poultry sector has suffered the steepest losses, with exports down 37.7% since Brexit. Beef exports have fallen by 23.6%, lamb by 14%, and dairy products by 15.6%.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said that while not all of the decline can be attributed solely to Brexit, the figures clearly show the scale of disruption caused by the UK’s exit from the European Union.
“Simply reducing friction doesn’t mean we are going to get the EU market back again,” Bradshaw warned. “There aren’t empty spaces on the shelves with a label saying ‘waiting for British products’. Rebuilding demand will take time, effort and real focus.”
UK-EU Talks Aim to Smooth Post-Brexit Relations
The findings come as the UK and EU prepare to step up political engagement, with plans for fortnightly calls to keep negotiations on farming and other elements of a broader UK-EU “reset” on track ahead of a leaders’ summit expected in May or June.
UK Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds recently held talks with European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, with both sides agreeing that more formal, regular discussions could help resolve disputes before they escalate.
A government source said there was a strong desire to “step the political engagement up even further to iron out issues and drive forward negotiations.”
Calls for Transition Periods and Regulatory Flexibility
In the short term, the NFU is urging negotiators to ensure British farmers are given sufficient time to adapt to any new rules that may apply to the Great Britain market. The union is also calling for targeted exemptions to protect areas where the UK has moved faster than the EU, such as gene editing to develop disease-resistant crops.
Bradshaw noted that the UK has also progressed more quickly on vaccines for bovine tuberculosis and avian flu, as well as approving certain plant protection products used in cereal production.
“If the EU is moving in the same direction, it shouldn’t put the handbrake on the UK,” he said, arguing for carve-outs and transition arrangements to prevent legally grown crops from becoming unsellable after any new agreement.
Long Road to Recovery for British Farmers
While improved UK-EU relations may help reduce future friction, the NFU cautions that restoring lost market share in Europe will not happen overnight. The post-Brexit decline in exports underlines the lasting challenges facing British farmers—and the years of effort likely required to rebuild trust, demand and trade across the Channel.
