New figures from the Food and Drink Federation this week have underlined Britain’s growing dependence on imported food.
According to figures reported today, the UK’s food and drink trade deficit has grown to more than £21 billion, its largest level since 2000. Food and drink export volumes fell 11.7% during the first half of 2026 to 4 billion kg, while imports reached 19.1 billion kg. FDF and farming representatives have argued that the figures raise wider questions about the resilience of domestic production in an increasingly uncertain global trading environment.
The latest numbers reinforce an issue BMPA has consistently raised which is that food security depends not just on being able to buy food on world markets, but on maintaining the domestic infrastructure needed to produce it.
We are the UKs largest trade body for the meat industry and provide expert advice on trade issues, bespoke technical advice and access to government policy makers
We are proud to count businesses of all sizes and specialties as members. They range from small, family run abattoirs serving local customers to the largest meat processing companies responsible for supplying some of our best-loved brands to shops and supermarkets.
We are further strengthened by our associate Members who work in industries that support and supply our meat processing companies.
We are the voice of the British meat industry.
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