Accredited official statistics

Port freight statistics: October to December 2012

Statistics on freight handled by major UK ports.

Documents

Port freight statistics: October to December 2012 report

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Port freight statistics: October to December 2012 tables

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If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email webmasterdft@dft.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

In 2012:

  • total major port traffic (tonnage) has fallen by 3% compared to 2011, following two consecutive years of slight growth
  • total major port traffic (tonnage) was 490 million tonnes, similar to levels seen in 2009 but 14% lower than the peak in 2005

Between 2000 and 2007, there was an upwards trend in unitised traffic at UK major ports. Since 2007, the trend has been downwards and the number of units handled during 2012 (20,632 thousands) are at levels seen in 2000.

During October to December 2012:

  • total port traffic (tonnage) was 119 million tonnes, a decline of 6% compared with October to December 2011 (127 million tonnes). This continues the decline seen during the previous quarters of 2012. The decline is the largest quarter on quarter fall seen during 2012.
  • the number of units of all types handled was 4,735 thousand units, down by 3% compared with October to December 2011 (4,902 thousand units).

Provisional annual statistics are updated in June and detailed final annual statistics are published in September.

Technical information

Information on port freight statistics, including the pre-release access list and related technical documentation are available.

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Updates to this page

Published 14 March 2013

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