UK dairy trade balance

Updated 11 March 2026

How do UK imports and exports compare for key dairy products? This information shows the net trade position for dairy products in both value and volume terms on an annual basis.  

• Of total dairy* tonnage, a UK trade surplus of 81 Kt occurred in 2025, following a deficit in 2024
• Skimmed milk powder (SMP) and cream recorded a trade surplus of 71 Kt and 12 Kt, respectively, whilst all other categories recorded a trade deficit
• In value terms, the overall trade deficit reduced in 2025 to £1.55bn for all dairy products. This compares to a deficit of £1.59bn in 2024. The value of exports increased more than value of imports

*HS codes 0401-0406. Includes shipments of unprocessed milk/raw milk crossing the border for processing.

Table 1. UK dairy trade balance by volume (thousand tonnes)

Table 2. UK dairy trade balance by value (£ million)

Source: HMRC, Trade Data Monitor LLC
*Includes other fats and oils derived from milk
**Includes other products not listed above

Figure 1. UK dairy trade balance (thousand tonnes) from 2021 to 2025

Source: HMRC, Trade Data Monitor LLC

Note: ‘All dairy’ includes some products not listed here

Figure 1 shows the data from table 1. Cheese and yogurt are in significant deficit for all five years, while SMP is slightly up. The other categories are marginally positive or negative. 

Figure 2. UK dairy trade balance (million £) from 2020 to 2025

Source: HMRC, Trade Data Monitor LLC

Note: ‘All dairy’ includes some products not listed here

Figure 2 shows the data from table 2. Cheese is significantly in deficit for all six years, whil yogurt is also down. The other categories are marginally positive or negative. 

The trade balance is calculated as exports minus imports.

Total dairy (all dairy) refers to HS codes 0401-0406 which includes shipments of unprocessed milk/raw milk crossing the border for processing.  

The liquid milk category includes shipments of unprocessed milk/raw milk crossing the border for processing.  

Butter refers to the total 0405 category which includes other fats and oil derived from milk. 

For descriptions of the product categories please see the notes section of the downloadable spreadsheet below.

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