The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has reported that UK cheese exports have increased by 25% annually in Q2 of 2022, primarily due to changes in EU trade, which is also up for H1 2022.
The EU remains the biggest market for British cheese producers, and trade with France and Sweden has reached above pre-Brexit levels according to the data.
But other markets where UK cheese is typically popular, such as Denmark, Germany and Spain, are yet to return to pre-Brexit levels, the analysis concludes.
AHDB analyst Charlotte Forkes-Rees reflected: “Despite the improvement in trade so far this year, total cheese exports may be slow to return to levels seen pre-Brexit. Trade in 2021 was abnormally low due to the uncertainties and added trade friction associated with the UK leaving the EU. Whilst most traders have now adapted to most of these barriers, the average price per tonne for cheese has seen a 15% increase in comparison to prices seen in Q2 2021. This increase in price may impact trade for the remainder of the year, particularly with the cost-of-living challenges facing consumers."