Accredited official statistics

Port freight quarterly statistics: October to December 2020

Provisional quarterly statistics on freight handled by UK major ports for October to December 2020.

Documents

Port freight quarterly statistics: October to December 2020 tables

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Details

Following user feedback, DfT are trialling publishing estimates of cargo group alongside the quarterly Port Freight Statistics, in a proposed third quarterly table PORT0503. There are several formats in which we can provide these figures and we are seeking feedback on what would best fit user needs. We have published what we propose this table will look like alongside the fourth quarter of 2020. The table currently contains 2018 and 2019 broken down by quarter in a proposed format. Following feedback, we will finalise this format and publish these estimates for the latest quarter alongside the current quarterly tables.

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 October to December 2020 with October to December 2019 through UK major ports:

  • total freight tonnage decreased by 8% to 113.5 million tonnes
  • inward tonnage decreased by 11% to 72.1 million tonnes
  • outward tonnage decreased by 4% to 41.5 million tonnes
  • total volume of unitised traffic decreased by 9% to 4.9 million units
  • inward units decreased by 7% to 2.6 million units
  • outward units decreased by 11% to 2.3 million units

When comparing the rolling year to December 2020 with December 2019 through UK major ports:

  • total tonnage decreased by 10% to 428.2 million tonnes
  • total volume of unitised traffic decreased by 23% to 17.9 million units

Detailed final annual statistics for 2020 will be published in summer 2021.

Further information about these statistics is available, including:

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Maritime and shipping statistics

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Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

Updates to this page

Published 10 March 2021

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