Industries with Biggest Decline in Exports in United Kingdom in 2026

• 1. Hard Coal Mining in the UK

  Decline in Exports for 2026: -23.4%

  Over the five years through 2024-25, hard coal mining revenue is forecast to sink at a compound annual rate of 39.7% to £11.9 million, including an 83% fall in revenue in 2024-25 due to Merthyr (South Wales) stopping trading as it finished selling its coal reserves in 2023-24. Leaving Energybuild as the only large-scale coal mine in the UK. This follows the long term decline of the industry, caused by falling sales and weak profitability, which slashed the number of UK coal mines in the UK fr...

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• 2. Butter & Cheese Production in the UK

  Decline in Exports for 2026: -16.1%

  Over the five years through 2025-26, butter and cheese production revenue is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 1.3%, reaching £3.7 billion. While inflation, energy price spikes and supply chain disruptions have presented challenges, domestic demand for everyday dairy has held firm. Revenue has been further supported by consumers responding well to health-focused and functional products. Supermarkets remain the key sales channel, offering and steady stream of sales. Profitability h...

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• 3. Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK

  Decline in Exports for 2026: -10.6%

  Over the five years through 2025–26, the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry’s revenue is expected to expand at a compound annual rate of 5.7%, reaching £3.5 billion. It's been a volatile time for manufacturers, with soaring energy prices, import competition from low-cost global producers and rising regulatory costs squeezing profit margins. The industry experienced a sharp rebound in 2021–22 as demand recovered strongly following a pandemic-related downturn, highlighting the sect...

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• 4. Lifting & Handling Equipment Manufacturing in the UK

  Decline in Exports for 2026: -9.7%

  Revenue prospects for the lifting and handling equipment manufacturing industry largely depend on the performance of downstream manufacturing, construction and freight-handling industries and their business expenditure levels. Following the EU referendum, business confidence dipped, weighing on domestic market prospects, as downstream companies restricted their capital spending. Despite the pandemic denting revenue sharply in 2020-21, construction activity has been resilient, with overall gro...

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• 5. Seafood Processing in the UK

  Decline in Exports for 2026: -9.0%

  Seafood processors' revenue is projected to sink at a compound annual rate of 0.7% to £3.8 billion over the five years through 2024-25when the average profit margin is set to sit at 7.1%. Domestic demand conditions have been bleak, as the rising cost-of-living squeeze raised inflationary pressures and higher selling prices made seafood products less affordable. Despite this, climbing awareness of the health benefits of consuming seafood pushed back against severe market pressures. Brexit and ...

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• 6. Perfume & Cosmetics Manufacturing in the UK

  Decline in Exports for 2026: -8.4%

  From perfumes to make-up, to haircare, skincare and oral hygiene products, perfume and cosmetics manufacturers do it all. Despite many products being considered necessities, the price points and quality of the products purchased depend on consumers' discretionary income. Challenging operating conditions and damaged consumer pockets are expected to cause revenue to contract at a compound annual rate of 0.8% over the five years through 2024-25 to £3.3 billion. Product innovation and changing co...

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• 7. Petroleum Refining in the UK

  Decline in Exports for 2026: -8.0%

  Petroleum refining companies in the UK produce a wide variety of products. Fuels for transport and heating are the most common, with petroleum products for transport accounting for almost three-quarters of product demand. Industry revenue is expected to swell at a compound annual rate of 2.6% over the five years through 2024-25 to £50.7 billion, including a forecast dip of 0.2% in 2024-25, owing to staggering volatility in oil prices in recent years.

  The COVID-19 pandemic took its toll...

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• 8. Juice Production in the UK

  Decline in Exports for 2026: -7.1%

  The UK juice production industry has experienced substantial instability over the last five years, resulting in large ups and downs. The industry must endure severe input price swings due to suppliers’ price sensitivity to external shocks, particularly weather. Additionally, the cost-of-living crisis weighed heavily on revenue in 2023-24, as skyrocketing inflation rates surged input prices and forced downstream consumers to cut back on non-essential spending on beverages like juice. The risin...

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• 9. Flat Glass Manufacturing in the UK

  Decline in Exports for 2026: -6.9%

  The UK flat glass manufacturing industry has faced dramatic swings in revenue in recent years, largely due to the outside economic environment. After pent-up demand was unleashed after the pandemic, the industry experienced revenue growth. However, the cost-of-living crisis and supply chain shortages severely impacted downstream demand. Construction and automotive industries suffered, shrinking demand for flat glass and causing revenue to tumble.

  Continued low business and consumer con...

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• 10. Bread & Bakery Goods Production in the UK

  Decline in Exports for 2026: -6.7%

  The Bread and Bakery Goods Production industry has faced fluctuations over the past few years due to evolving consumer tastes, shifting incomes and volatile prices. Over the five years through 2024-25, the industry's revenue is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 3.2%. The market has been swelled by the growing price of bread and other baked goods as manufacturers have endured mounting ingredient, energy and overhead costs. This meant that revenue was driven up even as incomes dropp...

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