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Brexit deals blow to UK dairy imports and exports
Brexit has dealt a blow to both European dairy exports to the United Kingdom and imports from the country. This is apparent from figures from the EU trade umbrella organization Eucolait for the first half of 2021.
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Choose the subscription that suits youThe volume of European dairy exports to the United Kingdom was almost a quarter (2021%) smaller in the first half of 24 than in the first half of 2020. Exports of butter oil (-61%), raw milk (- 58%), and skimmed milk powder (-56%). The hardest blows were in the first quarter, because there was significant hoarding in the last months of 2020. There was some improvement in the second quarter, but Eucolait does not expect a full recovery of exports to the UK, as part of the trade is simply no longer profitable.
British dairy exports to Europe fared even worse. It fell by 36% in volume during the same period. Yet the picture here is a little more mixed. For example, exports of cream from the UK increased by 54% in the first half of this year and butter exports also increased by 36%. Exports of condensed milk also increased (+40%). Meanwhile, exports of most major product flows fell.
