The UK food and drink trade deficit hit its "highest" level since 2000 in the first half of the year, as exports were dragged down by Middle East tensions and US tariffs.
According to data from industry body The Food and Drink Federation (FDF), export volumes slid 11.7% during the first half to four billion kilograms. The value of the UK's food and drink exports fell 3.4% to £12bn ($15.88bn).
Export volumes reached their third-lowest level on record, only "marginally above" the Covid-19 peak and 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak.
By contrast, imports stood at 19.1 billion kilograms in the opening six months of 2026.
That figure was down 2.5% on the first half of 2025 but represented the "second-highest" level on record, surpassed only by the same period last year, the FDF said.
This expanded the sector's trade deficit to £21.1bn. The trade group labelled the trajectory "concerning".
Karen Betts, the CEO of the FDF, cited "constantly changing regulation" and high compliance costs that leave UK producers "uncompetitive both here and abroad".