Core Insights - UK food and drink export volumes increased by 7.2% to 4.5 billion kilograms in the first half of 2025, with a notable recovery in the EU and double-digit growth in the US [1][2] - The value of UK food and beverage exports reached £12.4 billion ($16.5 billion), marking a 6.8% year-on-year increase, with non-alcoholic exports rising by 8.4% to £8.9 billion [2][3] - Exports to the US surged by 18.9% to £1.4 billion despite a 10% tariff, indicating a competitive advantage in certain food and drink categories [3][4] Export Performance - Shipments to the EU, the UK's largest trading partner, increased by 4.2% in value to £7.1 billion, while exports to non-EU countries rose by 10.6% to £5.3 billion [2][5] - Exports to New Zealand grew by 19.7% following the Australia-New Zealand trade deal, and shipments to India increased by 11.6% to £148.7 million [5][6] Future Outlook - A UK-India free trade agreement signed in July 2025 is anticipated to reduce or eliminate certain Indian tariffs in 2026, potentially boosting growth over the next decade [6] - The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) highlighted the first-half trade performance as "green shoots" after a stagnant previous year, urging collaboration between government and industry to sustain this growth [7]