UK-EU trade has indeed been severely disrupted, but this headline ('exports to EU slashed by 68% since Brexit') is still over the top.

Note:

1. The ‘68%' compares January 2021 to January 2020, so some of this (perhaps a third) is due to #Covid... (1/3) https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/feb/06/fury-at-gove-as-exports-to-eu-slashed-by-68-since-brexit

2. Some orders from EU clients were brought forward to late 2020 to avoid potential #Brexit disruption. This earlier stockpiling is depressing exports - temporarily - at the start of 2021.

(It would be good if the hauliers shared their November and December data too)... (2/3)

3. The 68% is a month average. Other data (e.g. ship visits) show traffic slumped in late Dec/early Jan, then began to recover over the rest of the month. February will be better.

To reiterate, there are problems here - but nowhere near as bad as the headlines imply. (3/3)