Sales of British farm products to the European Union have fallen by nearly 40 per cent since the UK left the EU, according to new analysis by the National Farmers’ Union.
The NFU, using HMRC trade data, said exports of key British food and farming products, including cheese, meat and dairy, have dropped sharply since Brexit in 2020, highlighting the long-term impact of new trade barriers on the agricultural sector.
The poultry industry has been hit hardest, with exports to the EU down 37.7 per cent. Beef exports have fallen by 23.6 per cent, while lamb sales are down 14 per cent and dairy exports have dropped by 15.6 per cent.
The union said the figures reflect a combination of factors, but stressed that Brexit has created significant obstacles for UK farmers trying to access their largest and most important export market. While some challenges are linked to wider global pressures, the NFU said the scale of the decline underlines how difficult it has become for British producers to compete in the EU.
The NFU’s president, Tom Bradshaw, said the loss of EU market share would not be quickly reversed, even if trade frictions were reduced. He warned that rebuilding demand for British products in Europe would require sustained effort, investment and long-term focus.
The warning comes as the UK and EU prepare to hold regular talks on agricultural trade ahead of the next leaders’ summit, raising hopes of incremental improvements to post-Brexit trading arrangements.
A recent government review found many farmers feel uncertain about the future, following years of disruption linked to Brexit, rising costs, labour shortages and changing agricultural support schemes. Although proposed changes to inheritance tax affecting farmers have since been dropped, concerns remain over the stability of post-Brexit funding.
A separate farm profitability review led by former NFU president Baroness Minette Batters found that uncertainty around sustainable farming payments and shifting policy priorities has left some farmers questioning the long-term viability of their businesses.
The report said UK farming remains essential to food security and the wider rural economy, but has faced sustained pressure from global market shocks, extreme weather, higher input costs and structural changes following Brexit.
Industry leaders have warned that without clearer long-term support and improved access to export markets, many British farms will continue to struggle to remain profitable.