UK food and drink exports fell by more than 10% in the first half of 2026, according to the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), a trade body representing the industry. The decline is attributed to rising costs, ongoing challenges from Brexit, and disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Export volumes reached 4 billion kg, slightly above levels seen during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and after the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Within the European Union, exports dropped by 0.9% in value, with significant declines in two of the UK’s largest markets: Ireland and France, which saw drops of 4.9% and 4.6%, respectively. Exports to non-EU countries fell by 6.9%, with a sharp decline of 23.4% to the UAE, linked to the war in the Middle East, and a 16.5% drop to the US due to a 10% import tariff imposed there. Food and drink imports into the UK reached their second-highest level on record, totaling 19.1 billion kg. Imports from outside the EU have increased by more than a fifth since 2023, partly due to relaxed trade restrictions, such as those with Australia. The UK government also suspended tariffs on certain manufactured foods, like chocolate and biscuits, as part of a cost-of-living support package, which has further boosted import levels. Meanwhile, EU food producers have increased their deliveries to the UK by 0.8% in value year-on-year, with volumes recovering since Brexit. The UK’s food and drink trade deficit—where more is imported than exported—has now reached over £21 billion, the largest since the year 2000. Industry leaders have called this a “wake-up call” for the government, urging action to protect domestic food production in the name of national security. Karen Betts, chief executive of the FDF, noted that the trade deficit is now the largest in over 25 years and expressed concerns about food security amid global conflicts and climate change. She highlighted rising costs for energy, ingredients, logistics, packaging, and labor, as well as the impact of changing regulations and compliance costs on UK businesses. Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales, emphasized the need for a long-term strategy to support British food production, stating that food security is a matter of national security. He pointed to the pressures facing farm businesses, including rising costs, regulatory burdens, extreme weather, and global market instability. Both industry leaders and farmers are calling for government intervention to ensure the UK can sustain its food supply in the face of ongoing global and domestic challenges.