Food and drink exports fell by more than £700 million for Q1 2020 compared with the same period last year as the coronavirus pandemic impacted the industry.

According to analysis from the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), sales to the EU were hit the hardest, with total value falling by 17.4% compared to 2019.

This decrease was largely driven by the immediate impacts of COVID-19, including the closure of hospitality and travel sectors, which has meant a loss of sales into restaurants, cafés, bars and the out-of-home sector across Europe.

While sales to the majority of the UK’s top markets declined, demand has been more resilient from others nations, including Singapore, Canada and Norway, which each saw sales growth of more than 10%.

The performance of our top ten products has been mixed, with whisky, cheese, gin, wine, beer and breakfast cereals declining in value and volume. Conversely, salmon and pork saw over 10% value growth.

The first quarter of the year also saw a fall in the value of branded food and non-alcoholic drinks exports of 9.1%.

Sales to all EU nations among the UK’s top ten branded goods export markets decreased in Q1 2020; almost one third of branded exports are now going to non-EU countries, a 4.5pp increase on Q1 2019.