The value of UK food and drink exports to Asia and the Americas increased last year, with exports of salmon to China worth almost twice as much as in 2020. Graphic: FDF / FDEA.

Salmon helps UK exports get back in the swim

Scottish salmon helped drive a recovery in UK food and drink exports last year, a new trade snapshot report from the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and the Food and Drink Exporters’ Association (FDEA) shows.

Editors
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Salmon worth £735.6 million was exported in 2021, an increase of 20.6% on the year before, according to the snapshot, although that was still 10.6% less than in 2019, before Covid-19 and the end of the Brexit transition period made life tough for exporters.

The value of food and drink exports to Europe fell by 11% to £12.1 billion last year, but the value of exports to Asia increased by 9.6% to £3.7bn.

Salmon was the UK's third most food and drink export to China last year and the second most valuable to Taiwan. Click on image to enlarge. Table: FDF / FDEA.

194% increase

Exports of salmon to China increased by 194.3% compared to 2020 and were worth £45.6m, making salmon the third most valuable food and drink export to China after pork (£239.6m, down 14.3%) and whisky (£200.1m, up 84%).

Salmon was the second most valuable export to Taiwan, although the £11m value was 27.7% lower than in 2020, and less than 5% of whisky’s £232.2m value.

“With an updated UK-Japan trade agreement entering into force in 2021, we have seen strong growth in exports to the country, with sales of wine up 36% and cereal grain rising over 3% since 2020,” said the report’s authors.

“Our sector’s exports to China are now worth more than £800m driven by a large increase in exports of whisky, salmon and vegetable oils. Exports are now close to overtaking UK imports of food and drink from China.

“We also anticipate an improvement in exports to Europe in 2022 as global hospitality industries recover and businesses are better able to trade with EU markets.”

Salmon was the second-most valuable UK food export last year, behind chocolate. Click on image to enlarge. Table: FDF / FDEA.

Ukraine war 

Food and drink exports to North America were worth £2.6bn last year, a rise of 6% over 2020, and exports to Central and South America were valued at £533.7m, up 62.3% on 2020.

FDF chief executive Karen Betts said the figures for the Americas and in Asia were encouraging, although performance in established markets in Europe and Australasia was less good. “But we have a good base to build on, and the FDF is committed to working closely with the UK government and devolved administrations to ensure that their weight is fully behind further building exports in great British food and drink. 

“The war in Ukraine is likely, however, to negatively impact our businesses’ trading ambitions, at least in the near term, with supply chains and trade routes disrupted.”

Trade show support

FDEA director John Whitehead said: “Finding customers in new markets is particularly challenging at a time when supply chain issues, shipping costs and inflation are impacting pricing, and our members continue to report major issues with bureaucracy as they strive to retain sales and win new business.

“With travel now opening up, our team is rebuilding its programme of UK groups at international trade shows to connect UK exporters with potential partners across the US, Europe, Japan and ASEAN countries, all of which have great potential. We urge Government to increase its support for trade shows, a vital tool in accelerating international growth.”

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