UK poultry exports fall 15.5% in Q2 2026 as Ghana and Belgium take a bigger share

UK poultry exports fell 15.5% year on year in the second quarter of 2026, even as West African demand lifted shipments to Ghana sharply higher.

Customs data reported on 6 October 2026 show the United Kingdom exported 45,468 tonnes of poultry in Q2 2026, down from 53,807 tonnes in the same quarter last year. The overall decline came from lower volumes to the Netherlands, France and Benin, while two destinations grew strongly.

• Netherlands — still the largest destination, but down almost 6,200 tonnes to 14,742 tonnes; its share fell from 45.9% to 32.4%.
• Ghana — up 48.1% to 5,963 tonnes, with its share rising from 7.5% to 13.1%.
• Belgium — up 24.4% to 4,983 tonnes, share rising from 7.4% to 11.0%.
• France fell 34.9% to 1,890 tonnes; Benin dropped 59.8% to 1,187 tonnes; Ireland was down 11.2% to 3,384 tonnes.

Ghana and Belgium together accounted for almost a quarter of UK poultry exports in Q2 2026, against less than 15% a year earlier. The figures point to a clear re-routing of volumes: when European demand softens, origins and buyers move quickly toward West African and other growth markets — the same dynamics that shape allocation and pricing in the Gulf and Africa today.

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Source: Poultry News, citing HMRC trade data — 6 October 2026