UK exporters are facing falling shipment volumes alongside rising costs and increasing administrative pressures, according to new research from international delivery specialist Parcelhero
The findings will be of particular interest to greetings manufacturers, publishers and retailers selling cards, stationery and gift products overseas, as international shipping and customs costs continue to affect the viability of exporting.
According to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) trade figures, UK goods exports fell by £2.2bn (6.3%) in June 2026. Exports to the EU dropped by £1.3bn (7.4%), while exports to non-EU markets fell by £1bn (5.4%).
Parcelhero compared the figures with export-specific data from the ONS Business Insights and Conditions Survey. It found that 28.6% of currently trading exporters said they exported less in June 2026 than in the same month a year earlier, up from 24.4% in March.
The picture was even more challenging for wholesalers and retailers, with 31.5% reporting lower export volumes. This could have implications for greetings businesses supplying independent retailers, department stores and distributors in overseas markets.
Export costs continue to climb
Some 39% of exporters said their costs were higher than a year earlier, compared with 35.3% in March. The figure rose to 60% among wholesalers and retailers, while 44.1% of manufacturers reported higher costs.
Almost a quarter (22.9%) of exporters also said costs directly linked to post-EU-transition export regulations were still increasing.
David Jinks, Head of Consumer Research at Parcelhero, said the figures suggested exporting was becoming more expensive and time-consuming, with customs and compliance creating additional costs for businesses selling internationally.
For greetings companies, where products such as cards and stationery are often exported in relatively high volumes, controlling delivery and administration costs can be particularly important to maintaining margins.
Parcelhero said businesses should review paperwork and customs processes, consolidate shipments where possible and work with delivery partners familiar with current EU and international import requirements.
