The UK’s trading ties with the EU have taken a deeper hit post-Brexit than those of its European counterparts, according to Logistics UK. New analysis shows UK exports to the EU have dropped by 23% since 2017, while imports have only fallen 5%. Logistics UK President Phil Roe presented the figures at Multimodal 2025, calling for urgent progress on border reforms agreed during the recent UK-EU summit.

Roe pointed to several global pressures - such as the pandemic and conflicts in Ukraine and the Red Sea - but stressed that Brexit has uniquely harmed UK exporters. Containerised shipments have followed a similar pattern, with EU-bound exports down 21% and imports from the EU again more stable. Roe highlighted that the UK still heavily depends on EU trade, but exporters face mounting obstacles.

He blamed the disparity on post-Brexit controls, particularly Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks, which have introduced new costs, delays and administrative burdens for UK businesses - especially those trading in perishable goods. Products like meat, fish, dairy and fresh produce have seen double-digit export drops since 2017.

To recover lost ground, Roe urged swift implementation of a UK-EU SPS agreement, arguing that dynamic alignment could eliminate many barriers and reignite trade in agri-food products, provided businesses are involved in shaping the new rules.