Spain: Spanish agro-food exports to UK starting to suffer from Brexit negative impact

Last year, the uncertainty generated by the Brexit affected the exports of Spanish food and beverages sold the most in the British market, the fourth country in order of importance for the sector, since it monopolizes 6.7% of all Spanish food exports.

This percentage is equivalent to just over €2 billion, out of a total of €30.2 billion.

The main sold product is wine, whose exports, in 2018, amounted to €313 million, according the data from the sectoral organization FIAB. This figure was 2.46% lower than in 2017. In addition, it broke a positive trend in sales of wine to this market, which between 2017 and 2016 had risen by 1%.

The impact was greatest on olive oil, the second most purchased Spanish food in the UK. Sales in 2018 amounted to €163 million, 10% less than in 2017. In that year, they had risen by 19.15% with respect to 2016, showing a radical change of trend.

Pork products, whose exports fell by 11.92%, experienced another important decrease reaching €155.5 million, compared to an increase of 7.17% in 2017.

The export of confectionery fell by 8.95% amounting €149.3 million. A year before it had raised by 15.3%.

Finally, in 2018, Spain sold canned vegetables to the UK worth €144 million, 1.77% less than a year before.

Other products less important for the export balance, whose sales were reduced too, were fishing products and dairy products, decreasing 11.48% and 3.69%, respectively.

Nevertheless, considering all sector exports to the UK, the figures are positive. The more than €2 billion sold to the UK accounted for 3.14% more in 2018 than in 2017. However, this growth shows a deceleration compared to the previous year when its rise was 4.15%.

Source: Expansión