Port freight quarterly statistics: January to March 2021
Provisional quarterly statistics on freight handled by UK major ports for January to March 2021.
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Following user feedback, the department are trialling publishing estimates of cargo group alongside the quarterly port freight statistics, in a proposed third quarterly table PORT0503. This has been published containing current quarter data for the first time.
This new data is regarded as Experimental Statistics, awaiting user feedback and further quality assurance to provide timely estimates. You can provide feedback about this change by filling in this form. We continue to welcome any feedback on any aspect of the port freight statistics, you can contact us by email to maritime statistics or phone 020 7944 4847.
When comparing January to March 2021 with January to March 2020 through UK major ports:
- total freight tonnage decreased by 9% to 103.9 million tonnes
- inward tonnage decreased by 8% to 67.2 million tonnes
- outward tonnage decreased by 11% to 36.6 million tonnes
- total volume of unitised traffic decreased by 13% to 4.2 million units
- inward units decreased by 17% to 2.2 million units
- outward units decreased by 8% to 2.0 million units
When comparing the rolling year to March 2021 with March 2020 through UK major ports:
- total tonnage decreased by 11% to 419.1 million tonnes
- total volume of unitised traffic decreased by 23% to 17.3 million units
Detailed final annual statistics for 2020 will be published in July 2021 and for 2021 in summer 2022.
Further information about these statistics is available, including:
- background information on quarterly port freight statistics
- notes and definitions for all port freight statistics
Contact us
Maritime and shipping statistics
Email maritime.stats@dft.gov.uk
Media enquiries 0300 7777 878