AHDB reports increase in UK exports for third quarter

The Agricultural and Horticultural Board (AHDB) has released its dairy trade review on the third quarter of 2025 and noted powders have seen the largest year-on-year increase, according to senior analyst Soumya Behera, while  “total export volumes of dairy products from the UK are up year-on-year (YOY)52. Exports of dairy products to the EU increased by 12,000 tonnes and that to non-EU nations increased by 3,400 tonnes. This was largely driven by an increase in the exports of powders, whey, cheese and butter.”

Total UK dairy export value stood at £529 million (€600.3m), up 13.7% year-on-year, and the third quarter saw a 5.5% YOY uptick, for a total of 294,000 tonnes.

The export volumes of milk, cream and yogurt have dropped, while their value has increased, and cheese exports have grown at the highest level in the quarter seen in the last six years, she notes.

Top cheese importers have been Germany, up 1,100 tonnes, the Netherlands increasing by 700 tonnes, Belgium (+600 tonnes) and Spain (+500 tonnes). This was followed by increases to Asia and Oceania, with China adding 500 tonnes and Hong Kong up 200 tonnes.

Meanwhile, imports to the UK saw a slight decline, with butter dipping by 24.3% to 12,300 tonnes during the quarter. That being said, imports of yogurt and whey and whey products increased by 7.4% and 13.8% respectively to 83,000 tonnes and 22,900 tonnes in response to growing demand.

For further information visit www.ahdb.org.uk