Using the latest UK trade and industry statistics available for 2025 (rolling 12-month and interim data – DEFRA / UKAMMG / HMRC-derived sources), here are the top three UK products of animal origin exported globally by volume (tonnes):

1) Dairy products (milk & dairy)
➡️ ~1.2 million tonnes
The UK’s largest animal-origin export by volume, with strong demand across Europe and global markets.

Destination?
• Europe — about 90% of dairy exports head to the EU, with major markets being Ireland, Netherlands, France, Spain and Germany. Much of the volume includes powders, whey, cheese and butter going into European processing supply chains first, with some growth in non-EU markets like Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.

2) Pig meat (pork, incl. edible offal)
➡️ ~156,000 tonnes (H1 2025)
Driven largely by exports of offal and pork cuts to Asian and EU markets.

Destination?
• China dominates demand for offal, taking roughly 62% of UK offal exports in 2025 so far — a huge share — driven by strong consumer and processing markets there.
• The EU27 remains the biggest destination for fresh/frozen pork, with Germany, Ireland and France accounting for much of that trade.
• Other significant markets include the Philippines and smaller shares to the Dominican Republic.

3) Poultry meat & products
➡️ ~253,000 tonnes (12 months to Aug 2025)
A consistently high-volume export, reflecting the UK’s scale and efficiency in poultry production.

Destination?
• Ireland and the Netherlands are among the top buyers of UK poultry by volume.
• Other notable destinations include France and the Philippines, showing that both nearby EU markets and more distant buyers are part of the export mix.

Reporting periods vary slightly by commodity, but the ranking clearly shows dairy, pork, and poultry dominating UK animal-origin exports by volume.

Takeaway:While seafood (notably Scottish salmon) often leads by value, dairy and meat products remain the backbone of UK animal-origin exports by sheer volume.

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Written by Chris Eglington on