A record number of food and drink was exported from the UK in the first quarter of 2017 thanks to the surging sales of salmon.

According to the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) UK food and drink exports have increased by 8.3 per cent on 2016 to a value of £4.9billion which is the highest first quarter exports value on record.

This is largely due to the Scottish salmon exports, which swam up to more than 50 per cent by value to £186.7million.

There is a huge global demand for the fish due to hampered production and tiny sea lice that are reducing stocks.

The FDF have said that the weaker pound has pushed up costs of UK Businesses for bringing food and drink to the UK from overseas.

Because of this, the difference between importing and exporting food to the UK has increased to 19 per cent reaching £6.2billion in the first quarter of 2017.

Here is a list of the top ten food and drink export courtesy of the FDF and their first quarterly sales.

• Whisky - £895.9million

• Salmon- £186.7million

• Chocolate- £155.3million

• Cheese- £145.3million

• Beer- £139.2million

• Wine-£133.3million

• Pork- £109million

• Gin- £108.3million

• Beef- £106.3million

• Vegetables- £97.6million

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