Despite initial concerns about a potential drop in trade following the UK's exit from the European single market, commercial relations between Lleida and the United Kingdom show a favorable balance for the province ten years after the Brexit referendum. Sales by Lleida companies to the country grew to 128.78 million euros in 2025, a significant increase compared to the 80.79 million euros recorded the year before the vote.
Concurrently, Lleida's imports from the UK have decreased by 54.47% during the same period, falling from 27.87 million euros to 12.69 million. This trend solidifies a positive trade balance for the province, according to data from the Ministry of Economy.
Experts attribute this trend to several factors. The UK maintains a strong demand for fresh food, particularly fruits like stone fruits and apples, due to its limited production capacity. Sales of these Lleida products grew from 18.6 million euros in 2015 to over 71 million euros in 2025. This increase in value is affected by higher costs from new customs controls, but also by an increase in the volume traded, which rose from 18,850 tons to over 34,189 tons.
The rapid adaptation of many exporting companies to new post-Brexit customs and administrative processes has also been key to minimizing the impact of new trade barriers and maintaining a presence in the British market. The reduction in imports is mainly linked to the increased cost of procedures, which has prompted EU countries to seek alternative suppliers within the single market.
The data suggests that Brexit "has not been an impediment," according to Acció. Despite an initial dip in sales after the referendum and due to the pandemic, growth has been sustained since 2021, the year the country's departure from the EU was formalized.
