The UK has become a less important market for Dutch products

The year before the Brexit referendum, the UK had an 11.5% share of Dutch fresh food exports. In 2021, this percentage rises to only 7.6%.

 

According to a recent report by CBS, the Dutch statistical institute, between January and August 2021, Dutch exports of perishable products (meat, dairy products, fish, fruits and vegetables) to the UK reached € 2.2 billion, which is -8.1% compared to the same period in 2020.

 

In these first 8 months of 2021, in terms of value, half of these exports were fruit and vegetables, as Dutch exporters sold fruits and vegetables worth € 1.1 billion to their British customers. This is -14% compared to the same period in 2015, the year before the Brexit referendum.

 

For this period from January to August 2021, only 5 types of products accounted for around 2/3 of all fresh fruit and vegetable exports to the UK: tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, pears and fresh onions. In terms of value, fresh tomato exports increased by + 2% compared to 2020, but the other products (peppers, cucumbers, pears, onions) decreased.

 

Before Brexit, the UK was the second largest destination for Dutch perishables exports. Now, the United Kingdom only has a 7.6% share and is the fourth destination for exports, after neighboring countries (Germany, Belgium) and France.