Figures released by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) show a 21% increase in value and a 15.4% increase in volume sales of wine from January to July 2017.
“The figures demonstrate that wine is a key export product for the UK, providing a significant contribution to British food and drink,” said WSTA chief executive, Miles Beale.
“The release of a customs paper earlier this week, detailing the government’s intent to pursue an interim agreement whilst continuing negotiations with the EU over a free trade deal, is sensible.”
The WSTA argues that the figures show the importance of ensuring the UK gets the right deal as it leaves the EU, one in which trade can continue uninterrupted.
A lot of wine that is originally imported to the UK is then reshipped to the EU, as well as markets further afield, particularly to the Far East and countries like China, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Beale added: “Uninterrupted trade with the EU is essential if we want to protect and increase our wine exports. It’s also sensible for EU wine makers exporting to non-EU markets via the UK, of course.
“The sooner businesses have this sort of clarity the easier a transition to a post-EU trading environment will be – when there also needs to be new bilateral trade deals of which British drinks can take advantage."
WSTA figures show that wine exports to the EU were worth £189m in 2016.
