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Port freight annual statistics 2021: Overview of port freight statistics and useful information

Published 27 July 2022

About this release

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You can use our maritime interactive dashboard to explore port freight trends

Things you need to know

This statistical release provides information on trends and patterns in the handling of freight traffic at UK sea ports, in terms of cargo as well as the route taken. Port freight statistics are based on a combination of data reported to the DfT by port authorities and shipping lines, or their agents.

Ports are split into major and minor ports. There are 51 major ports which are strategically important, which handles at least 1 million tonnes of cargo annually. The majority of this publication covers major port data, as more detail is collected from these ports, such as cargo category and route taken.

Cargo is categorised based on the means by which goods are loaded onto or off the vessel.

Definitions

Unitised traffic: only lift-on, lift-off (Lo-Lo) and roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) freight services can be expressed in terms of units, which relates to how the cargo was contained. For example, a container, a trailer, or a passenger car is assigned a value of 1 unit. Apart from passenger vehicles, all unitised traffic can be expressed in terms of tonnage as well. All other categories (liquid bulk, dry bulk and other general cargo) are only expressed in tonnage.

Bulk cargo: tends to be unpackaged and transported in large quantities, either in liquid or granular form, as a mass of solids. Examples include crude oil, coal and gravel. This is typically dropped or poured into a hold, and is unloaded via suctions, screw or grabber. See the cargo categorisation guidance for detail on the categorisation of types of cargo.

Inwards and outwards traffic refers to the direction of travel at UK ports, and includes both domestic (for example, traffic between Liverpool and Belfast) and international traffic. The port of loading or unloading is also recorded. This may not be the port of ultimate origin or destination. For example, if a ship carrying cargo from Asia unloads or loads the cargo at a European port which is then put on another ship to the UK, our statistics will state the port of load as the European port, rather than the port in Asia. This is known as transhipment. Imports and exports only relate to international traffic.

Information is also available on the ship type and the number of times ships arrived at UK ports (see PORT06 tables). This part of the publication is outside the scope of National Statistics.

Overview of port freight statistics

In 2021, a total of 445.5 million tonnes of cargo were handled at all UK ports, a 2% increase on 2020 but remaining 8% lower than 2019, suggesting that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continued to have an impact on cargo volumes.

Infographic 1: Overview of port freight statistics

Below is a summary of the main points from the latest port freight trends in 2021 (infographic 1):

In 2021:

• both major and minor ports tonnage showed some recovery, but remain below 2019 levels

• domestic traffic increased by 9% from 2020, reflecting an increase in one port and coastwise traffic

• international imports showed some recovery but remain 8% lower than pre pandemic levels, whereas international exports are continuing to decline following the downward trend seen since 2018.

• London handled the most traffic of all UK ports, accounting for 12% of all UK traffic, followed closely by Grimsby and Immingham (11%)

• oil products and accompanied roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) traffic account for the majority of the decline in tonnage since 2017

• dry bulk tonnage has increased, likely driven by biomass (organic material used as a renewable energy source) and aggregates (sand and gravel used for construction)

Background Information

The tables give further detail of the key results presented in this statistical release. They are available from port and domestic waterborne freight statistics.

These notes provide further information such as definitions and a list of UK ports is available. The background quality report provides further information on how the data is collected, quality assured and comparisons with relevant data sources.

The port freight statistics are National Statistics. This means they are produced to high professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure they meet customer needs. These statistics were designated as National Statistics in February 2013. The continued designation was confirmed in December 2018. The arrivals statistics included in this release are not National Statistics.

Details of Ministers and officials who receive pre-release access to these statistics up to 24 hours before release can be found on the pre-release access list.

Impact of the coronavirus pandemic:

This release covers the period of the government’s announcement, and implementation, of measures to limit the impact and transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). Since March 2020, measures included the introduction of lockdown, self-isolation, and subsequent international travel policies. Freight drivers were exempt from many of the travel restrictions the government put in place to ensure continual flow of freight however, measures affected demand for goods in different ways. Comparisons have been made to 2019 as well as 2020 as 2019 was the last full year before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic started.

Related data sources

His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes data on tonnage and value to a much more granular commodity level for goods moved between the UK and countries outside the EU by sea. Comparisons between port freight and these sources, specifically for certain cargo categories, are explored further in our [notes and definitions].

The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy publish the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) which covers the production and consumption of fuels and energy in the UK.

Information on freight moved by different modes, including a breakdown of domestic freight is available in Transport Statistics Great Britain.

Eurostat publish comparative port freight data for European Union countries, which can be used to compare UK ports to those in other EU countries.

Related notes and definitions are available.

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Contact details

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