LONDON, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Annual global sales of British foods and drinks have hit the 20 billion pound mark (24.9 billion U.S. dollars) for the first time, Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom announced Tuesday.
The Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) said new figures for sales recorded in 2016 revealed that exports grew by nearly 10 percent in 2016, with food and drink sales to the United States -- one of Britain's biggest markets -- up 12 percent.
Newer markets also saw record growth last year. Exports to Malaysia grew by 143 percent, while India emerged as one of Britain's priority markets, thanks to growing demand for Scotch whisky.
A Defra spokesman in London said: "Export figures show no sign of slowing following the decision to leave the European Union (EU) and come as the Environment Secretary vows to ramp up the focus on international trade."
Defra said that with only one in five food producers in Britain currently exporting, a dedicated government team was ensuring British companies had the know-how and finesse to tap into new international markets and take advantage of the global demand for British food and drink.
Speaking ahead of a major National Farmer's Union (NFU) conference, Leadsom said: "As we prepare to leave the EU, there has never been a better time to become more outward looking, develop new trading relationships... But the food and drink industry cannot do this alone; we need to give them the skills, knowledge, and contacts to make the most of the opportunities ahead."
Defra said that as well as opening up new markets around the world, the government would continue its focus on European markets, with exports of salmon to France growing by 31 percent and all food and drink exports to Germany up by 12 percent. (1 British pound=1.246 U.S. dollars)
