Accredited official statistics

Port freight annual statistics: 2018 final figures

Freight handled by UK ports during 2018.

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Port freight annual statistics: 2018 final figures tables

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Total tonnage levels for all UK ports remained level in 2018 compared to 2017 at 483.3 million tonnes handled.

For UK major ports in 2018:

  • The UK continues to import more than it exports. A total of 252.4 million tonnes were imported, compared to 130.5 million tonnes exported.
  • More goods were moved between UK major ports and the EU than any other region in 2018, accounting for 44% (206.2 million tonnes) of total major port traffic.
  • liquid bulk goods, which account for 39% of total tonnage, decreased 5% overall; crude oil handled has more than halved since 2000 to 82.4 million tonnes and continues to fall
  • unitised traffic fell to 23.9 million units, after five consecutive years growth
  • container units increased to a record high of 6.0 million units
  • overall roll-on roll-off traffic fell by 1% to 17.9 million units passing through UK major ports.

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Updates to this page

Published 21 August 2019

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