UK exports of soft drinks and water both fell in 2012, but fruit juice sales overseas were up, according to latest figures. International sales of UK-produced waters dropped by 17.1% to £28M in the 12m period, the Food and Drink Federation said. Sales of soft drinks were down by 7.3% to £345M in the same period. Ireland remained the biggest market for soft drinks exports but sales still fell by 10.4% to £189M. In France, demand dived as sales from the UK were down by 47.7% to £16M. However, soft drinks exports to non-EU countries performed well, with sales up by 11.5% to £87M. While UK water sales to Ireland fell by 42.5% to £8M in 2012, there was strong demand in the UAE with companies reporting export sales up 45.7% to £2M. Exports to other non-EU markets climbed by 14.7% to £12M. Fruit juice exports by UK producers rose by 5.9% to £56M, with Germany leading growth, up 234% to £4M.
