Beef exports to the EU decreased in the first half of this year, but whisky and salmon exports increased.

According to figures from the British Food & Drink Federation, total exports of food and drink products fell by 16 percent to about £ 4.9 billion (about € 5.7 billion). That’s the lowest amount since 2012. The cause of this sharp decline is the coronavirus pandemic and, in particular, Brexit: since the beginning of this year, customs controls have been carried out at the EU border.

As a result, beef exports fell by around 25% compared with the previous year, pork exports by almost 20% and chicken exports by almost 18%. Sheep meat was exported to the EU by 4 percent.

On the contrary, whisky exports to the EU increased by almost 20 percent. Salmon exports also swam against the current and increased by almost 27 percent.