UK dairy and red meat exports have surpassed £4 billion for the first time, reflecting rising global demand for British livestock products and a growing reliance on overseas markets to support sector profitability.
New figures from HMRC show dairy exports reached £2.2 billion in 2025, marking a 16.6% increase compared with the previous year. Red meat exports, including offal, climbed 12% to £2 billion.
The milestone underscores the expanding role of international trade in sustaining farm revenues and balancing domestic supply pressures.
The European Union continues to dominate as the primary destination, accounting for 73.9% of UK dairy export value and 81% of red meat shipments. While this highlights strong trade ties with European markets, it also reflects the sector’s continued dependence on EU demand.
Industry observers note that robust export performance helps stabilize domestic prices by reducing excess supply, particularly in the dairy sector, where managing production volumes remains a persistent challenge.
The growth follows an intensive year of international promotion by the levy body AHDB, which expanded its trade development activities throughout 2025.
Jonathan Eckley, AHDB International Trade Development Director, described the outcome as a significant achievement, pointing to strong demand for British dairy and red meat across a broad range of global markets. He said detailed consumer and market analysis had helped exporters target opportunities more effectively.
AHDB increased its global presence through major trade events such as ANUGA in Cologne and hosted inbound buyer missions that brought delegations from the Americas, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East to the UK.
Lucy Randolph, AHDB Head of International Trade Development for Dairy, said the rise in export values reflected sustained promotional efforts and deeper engagement with overseas buyers.
She emphasized that exports remain critical to the long term stability of the dairy industry by providing a reliable outlet for surplus production, strengthening demand, and supporting price resilience.
Each additional ton of cheese, yoghurt, or other dairy products sold abroad helps maintain balance in the domestic market, she said.
AHDB plans to expand promotional campaigns in key markets, including Singapore, the United States, and Japan, with a major presence scheduled at SIAL in Paris later this year.
Eckley said international trade development remains central to AHDB’s strategy, highlighting the importance of exports in delivering stronger farmgate returns and improving long term resilience across the UK’s dairy and red meat sectors.
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