ITALIAN PASTA EXPORTS TO BRITAIN PLUMMET BY 25% AS BRITONS SNUB EUROPEAN FOOD POST-BREXIT
Exports of Italian pasta to Britain have plummeted by 25% as Britons snub European products post-Brexit.
According to analysis of Istat data by Coldiretti, the number of Britons paying Italian pasta dropped to the lowest figure in the last five years. Sales of Italian food products in Britain were down by 10.5% due to export limitations imposed by Brexit.
In contrast, the jump recorded in Made in Italy exports throughout the world increased throughout the world with +19.8% in the first quarter of 2021.
Coldiretti claimed the bureaucratic and administrative difficulties linked to Britain’s departure from the European Union are weighing on national food exports to the UK.
It claimed the major problems for those exporting to the UK concern customs procedures. The increase in transport costs due to delays and greater controls has also impacted imports into Britain.
Coldiretti said in its analysis: “Difficulties that jeopardise the €3.4 billion of annual Made in Italy agri-food exports with the UK, which ranks fourth among the Italian trade partners for food and drink after Germany, France and the United States.
“After wine, with Prosecco in the lead, in second place among the best-selling Italian agri-food products in Great Britain, we find tomato derivatives, but also pasta, cheeses, cured meats and olive oil, as well as Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano.”
The Italian organisation also claimed violations of the Brexit agreement by the British increases the risk of food and drinks arriving into the EU which do not comply with the bloc’s safety standards.
They warned these products are counterfeits and imitations of protected food products such as Parmesan to Chianti.
It concluded: “It is precisely in English pubs that the sales of fake prosecco in cans or on tap have been exposed.”
British goods exports to the European Union rose to their highest since October 2019 in May, official data showed last week.
This reversed a slump at the start of 2021 when Britain exited the bloc’s single market and customs union.
Overall trade with the EU has lagged behind growth in sales to the rest of the world, and business groups said they still faced extra red tape dealing with European customers and suppliers as a result of Brexit.
Britain’s Office for National Statistics said goods exports to the European Union, excluding precious metals, rose to €16.4 billion in May on a seasonally adjusted basis, their highest since October 2019 and almost twice January’s level.
An Office for National Statistics spokesperson said in April: “Exports to the EU recovered significantly from their January fall, though still remain below 2020 levels.
“However, imports from the EU are yet to significantly rebound, with a number of issues hampering trade.”
Total goods exports of €32.6bn, excluding precious metals, were the highest since January 2020, just before the coronavirus pandemic began to cause disruption.
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