10 UK Export News You Might’ve Missed — Week #3
(10 UK Export News is also published on LinkedIn)
Hello, and welcome to the first edition of the Expordite newsletter!
In this newsletter, we’ll be providing an overview of 10 UK export news you might have missed over the week before, and keep you posted on what we at Expordite are up to to ensure your export journey is as smooth as possible!
For our first issue, here are the top 10 UK export news you might have missed in week 3 of 2023 (16–22nd of January):
General Export News
“Kevin Keegan, this year’s host, has revealed the winners of the annual BIFA Freight Service Awards and expressed his delight for those crowned as champions in the various categories.
He said that all the winners demonstrated total commitment to both the industry and driving change: two characteristics that epitomise Keegan’s long-lasting impact on the world of football and his enthusiasm for the sport.”
Source: BIFA
2. RFI for Export Licence Applications Back to Normal
“Following notice to exporters 2020/10, relating to interim arrangements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we are pleased to announce that we are resuming some pre-COVID case handling arrangements for export licence applications.
During the pandemic, the response time for requests for information (RFI) was increased to 40 working days to allow extra time for exporters to gather their material. Effective from the publication of this notice, the response time for RFIs will revert to 20 working days, as was the arrangement pre-COVID.”
Source: HMRC
3. UKEF and Hassan Allam Holding sign agreement to enhance cooperation across Africa
“UK Export Finance (UKEF), the United Kingdom’s export credit agency, and Hassan Allam Holding, one of the largest engineering, construction, investment and development companies in Egypt and the MENA region, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to increase cooperation in a number of projects across Africa.”
Source: Gov.uk
4. DIT launches new awards scheme to celebrate UK SMEs ‘punching above their weights’ overseas
“The Department for International Trade (DIT) has launched a new awards scheme recognising and celebrating UK SMEs trading internationally across a wide range of sectors.
The inaugural ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards’ will reward traders in seven sectors and will be judged by senior officials at DIT and the Institute of Export & International Trade’s (IOE&IT) director general Marco Forgione.
Winners will receive a certificate, digital badge accreditation, high profile site visit from a DIT representative and promotional activity organised by DIT.”
Source: Institute of Export & Int.Trade
Food Export News
5. Irish food and drink exports to the UK reach record high of €5.4 billion
“In value terms, the UK remains the largest single market with 32% of the share, 34% of Ireland’s food and drink exports go to the EU and a further 34% to international markets. A key factor of the Irish food and drink industry’s success in the UK has been to maintain a diverse range of markets and channels. Sustainability remains a core theme as Bord Bia strengthens its supports and standards to reflect this, having celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Origin Green programme in 2022.”
Source: Retail Times
6. Sheep Meat Exports Continue to Rise
“Exports in November of fresh and frozen beef totalled over 7000 tonnes, up almost 400 tonnes (5.7 per cent) on October.
The EU accounted for 93.6% of total exports, as well as the majority of the uplift in export volumes with all but a few countries in growth.
Fresh and chilled lamb carcases and half carcases remained the top export (5,300 tonnes), followed by sheep short forequarters (364 tonnes).
The top performing frozen product was bone in cuts of sheep meat (169 tonnes), making it overall the 5th top performing export for the month.”
Source: Grampian Online
7. Fortnum & Mason to Resume European Exports in 2023
“Luxury department store Fortnum & Mason is aiming to resume exports to Europe in summer 2023 and is in the process of opening its own infrastructure network on the continent in order to do so.
“We can’t wait for the government to establish better relations with the EU, and then relaunch,” Fortnum’s CEO said. “We have to go sooner than that, because otherwise, our European customers will just forget who Fortnum’s is.”
Source: The Grocer
8. Brazilian chefs get a taste of Scotland
“Four top Brazilian sushi chefs have taken part in a trade mission around Scotland designed to promote UK seafood and boost exports to South America.
The trade mission was organised by the Department for International Trade, in partnership with DEFRA, to promote UK seafood, and encourage the chefs to consider importing fish from the UK.
It was delivered through the UK Government’s £1m Seafood Export Package, part of the £100m UK Seafood Fund, which aims to boost seafood exports and promote the industry’s high-quality produce overseas.”
Source: Fish Farmer Magazine
Export Forecasts & Trends
9. UK will be 15 years late in hitting £1tn annual export target, figures show
“Projections from the Department for International Trade (DIT) show the value of UK exports will not reach £1tn until 2035, based on current trends, with the total due to fall to £707bn next year.”
Source: The Guardian
10. SME Exporters Under Tightening Pressure
“A survey of more than 2,300 UK SME exporters has revealed UK overseas trade continues to languish as the global economy heads into another difficult year.
More SME exporters are continuing to report falling export sales (27%) than are reporting an increase (26%).
Just over a third of SME exporters (36%) expect to see increased profitability in the next 12 months, while an almost equal number (35%) expect a decrease.”
Source: BCC
In other news, Expordite is now listed in HMRC’s list of CDS providers!
We’re very proud of the HMRC recognition and we look forward to our mutual cooperation for years to come.
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