In addition, Food from Britain said it was confident this figure will reach a record breaking £11 billion for the year, despite the setbacks caused by foot and mouth disease.
The prediction represents a 5% increase on last year’s annual figures and, according to the export marketing consultancy, indicates the strength of the UK’s food and drink export market.
“Historically Britain’s red meat exports have been very strong and contributed significantly to the overall export figures,” said Chris Brockman, research and consultancy manager at Food from Britain.
“This meant that when BSE struck over a decade ago, and then foot and mouth disease came along at the beginning of the century, it spelt real problems for UK food and drink export performance overall. Since then the UK has strengthened all of its food and drink export offerings and is not as reliant on beef, for example.”
Europe continues to be home to the majority of the UK’s exports, accounting for 68% of the total food and drink exported, while newer EU member states, including Estonia (+ 145%), Slovakia (+127%) and Hungary (+39%), are showing an increasing interest in British food and drink.
Ireland remains the UK’s number one export market, up 14% year-on-year, accounting for £1m.
Reversing a recent trend, UK food and drink exports are now growing faster than imports (+9% versus +1% respectively for the first half of 2007), reducing the overall food and drink trade gap.
