Brexit opens new doors for Alicante exports to the United Kingdom
Since Brexit took effect on 1 January 2020, exports from Alicante to the United Kingdom have not just continued; they reached all-time highs. The Foreign Trade Institute (ICEX) reports that shipments to the UK have doubled, defying initial concerns about border controls and red tape. Instead, Alicante’s producers have found a strong growth path in a market with high per capita income and robust consumer demand.
Last year, exports from the province to England totaled 474 million euros, about 90% higher than in 2019. The upward trend continued into the first quarter of this year, with sales reaching 156.7 million euros, an 18.8% rise over the same period last year.
Between January and March, the British Isles emerged as the fourth foreign market for Alicante products, ahead of the United States and just behind France, Germany, and Italy, while Portugal had previously led the way in this ranking.
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The national picture shows exports to the UK higher than pre-Brexit levels, though the overall increase is more modest at 6.9% on a national scale. The standout performer remains the agriculture-food sector. In the first quarter, around 60% of all UK sales from the province came from agriculture and food products, totaling 92.3 million euros. This figure more than triples the level seen in the same period in 2019.
Work on a lemon harvest on a Vega Baja farm illustrates the impact visually, with agriculture driving a large share of the gains. The Asaja-Alicante president notes that the UK is a highly attractive destination for regional producers, given strong demand and price opportunities for vegetables such as broccoli, which are increasingly well received by British consumers. Some crops redirected from the Cartagena site due to environmental restrictions have shifted toward Vega Baja and Medio Vinalopó, leading to lighter, more weighty vegetable shipments in recent years.
Only a hundred companies account for more than half of Alicante’s exports
Exporters face a competitive environment where gaining a foothold remains essential. In citrus, historical trade relationships with the UK and South Africa present ongoing opportunities as the harvest in the UK market winds down, suggesting an imminent window of opportunity for Alicante’s citrus sector.
other sectors
Beyond farming, another sector showing strength in the UK after Brexit is plastics. In the first quarter, sales reached six million euros, with gains in containers for industry and food. This reflects a thriving segment anchored in the Ibi region’s manufacturing ecosystem.
Footwear remains a notable growth area. Last year the British market purchased about 75.3 million euros worth of shoes produced in the province, a 12% rise from 2019, with first-quarter shipments up 3% to 18.5 million euros. While post-referendum volatility affected past years, the rebound is a positive sign as the UK remains a key non-EU market for Alicante’s footwear industry. Local producers remain optimistic about continued demand and opportunities for expansion.
Yet the main challenge for exporters continues to be currency movement. The pound’s price can make shipments more expensive or cheaper, depending on exchange rates. After the transition to the euro and subsequent shifts, sales to the UK have shown resilience, with recent figures once again outperforming historical levels.