There are new opportunities to increase UK food exports due to ongoing trade negotiations, according to the latest Trade Snapshot from the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

Export volumes were steady in the first quarter of this year, compared to 2024, and significant growth is still required if they are to return to the levels seen before the Covid pandemic. UK global food export volumes remain down by more than a fifth (20.4%), and non-alcoholic drink exports are down by 9.2%, compared to figures from 2020, according to FDF figures.

However, there are positive implications for food and drink manufacturers in recent trade negotiations, said the group.

Exports to non-EU markets increased by 10.5% in the first quarter, as access to those markets improved. For example, UK exports of soft drinks to Malaysia more than doubled after the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership came into effect in December last year.

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Negotiations with the US and India are promising, as are improved EU relations, according to the FDF.

“As the UK’s biggest and most important trade partner, the negotiations on a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU is a positive step towards reversing a concerning decline in exports from the UK. But it’s far from a silver bullet. It’s vital that through these negotiations the UK secures the ability to influence EU regulatory decisions that will impact British businesses,” says FDF director of industry growth and sustainability Balwinder Dhoot.

“This new data demonstrates that there are also plenty of opportunities for UK food and drink beyond the EU, meaning government should keep its foot on the gas when it comes to improving the UK’s trade relationships across other global markets. Removing trade barriers and helping more businesses expand into new markets abroad presents a crucial growth opportunity, while diversifying our import markets is vital to protecting the UK’s food security.”

The FDF identified opportunities for the UK government to maintain its momentum, saying that a push to reduce tariffs could increase exports to markets such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Turkey.