British food and drink industry receives almost £100m export boost
6th November 2025
British food producers can now benefit from export opportunities estimated by industry to be worth nearly £100 million, according to DEFRA.
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 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, the UK government explained.
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.
In 2024, the US market has also opened to beetroot growers for the first time in our history.
Minister for food security Dame Angela Eagle 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.”
World-class red meat and dairy produce
DEFRA confirmed that the attachés, based in key markets worldwide, are returning from their international posts between 3rd and 7th 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, AHDB international trade development director, added: “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.”
The attachés’ UK visit aims at strengthening 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.
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