British food producers can now benefit from export opportunities
estimated by industry to be worth nearly £100 million, following
intensive work by its network of agri-food attachés this year.
Since January, the 16 attachés have unlocked these opportunities
by removing 41 trade barriers and opening new global markets for
British producers. This includes reopening pork exports worth up
to £80 million to China, securing access to Vietnam's thriving
live seafood market worth £4 million a year, and unlocking £35
million in dairy exports to Egypt a year, as well as sealing a
£3.8 million annual pork deal with Mexico, all according to
industry estimates.
Since being established, the scheme has extended the global reach
of the UK's food and drink sector – the nation's largest
manufacturing industry, worth £37 billion and employing nearly
half a million people. Previous victories for British farmers and
producers include opening the US market to beetroot growers in
September 2024 for the first time in our history.
Through the attaché network's partnership with industry, the
government is safeguarding food security and creating economic
benefits for businesses and communities throughout the UK as part
of its Plan for Change to kickstart growth.
Minister for Food Security Dame said:
Every trade barrier we remove is another door opened for British
farmers and food producers to sell their world-leading products.
From our beef to our baked goods, British food and drink is
highly sought after in markets worldwide and, thanks to the
dedicated work of our trade attachés, we're helping our producers
grow their businesses and the economy.
This boost to export opportunities shows what can be achieved
when government works hand-in-hand with our food and farming
sectors to champion British products across the globe.
The attachés, based in key markets worldwide, are returning from
their international posts from 3-7 November to meet with
producers whose interests they represent overseas.
From visits to up-and-coming innovators in Yorkshire to the UK's
biggest alcohol exporters, these meetings help attachés
understand more about the experiences of UK exporters and
identify new opportunities for British produce in their
respective markets.
Jonathan Eckley, Agriculture and Horticulture
Development Board (AHDB) International Trade Development
Director, said:
Ensuring we have a broad portfolio of markets for our world-class
red meat and dairy produce is essential to maximise opportunities
around the world and we will continue to work with the
agri-attachés, wider government and industry to help ensure those
products thrive in the global market.
International trade plays a major role in supporting our levy
payers and the collaborative approach between AHDB, industry and
government in securing market access and supporting export
development delivers tangible results for our red meat and dairy
sectors.
The attachés deliver tangible benefits for British businesses
across all four nations by using their on-the-ground expertise to
showcase the quality, safety, standards, and provenance of
British products.
During their UK visit, the attachés will strengthen partnerships
with industry to discuss export blockers and demand for UK food
and drink in high-value growth markets.
Top UK agri-food exports last year included luxury items such as
whisky, chocolate and salmon, as well as staples of animal feed
and cereals, showing the value of British produce from across the
breadth of the food and farming sector.
