UK food and drink exports continued to break all records in the first half of 2007 - with fruit and vegetables in particular notching up a small increase in figures.

Latest figures from market development network Food from Britain reveal that demand for British produce overseas has never been greater, and the organisation is confident this figure will reach a record-breaking £11 billion for the year.

This prediction represents a five per cent increase on last year’s annual figures, and indicates the strength of the UK’s food and drink export market. Exports reached £5.2bn at this year’s half-year mark, compared with £4.2bn in the same period in 2006.

Fruit and vegetable exports increased by one per cent from January to June 2007, compared with the same period in 2006. Fresh veg exports experienced an increase of 11 per cent in January to June 2007, compared with the year-earlier period, while fresh fruit shipments fell by 11 per cent.

Fresh prepared veg exports declined by one per cent for the period January to June 2007 compared to the year-earlier period, while prepared fruit exports rose by one per cent.

Europe continues to absorb most of the UK’s food and drink exports, accounting for 68 per cent of the total. Ireland remains the number-one market, although newer EU member states Estonia, Slovakia and Hungary also showed an increasing interest. Outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway and Turkey imported a lot, as well as Dubai, Singapore, Russia and South Africa, which all showed positive growth.

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