Port of Ipswich sets a new grain handling record in 2015/16 harvest year
ABP’s Port of Ipswich, the UK’s number one grain exporting port, has handled more than one million tonnes of grain in the 2015/16 harvest year, a record total for the port and its customers, ABP says in a press release.
In the last harvest year, which ended on 30 June, approximately 1,093,481 tonnes of grain were handled, surpassing the previous best year in 2009/10 where 933,000 tonnes passed through the port. It’s also a third increase on last year’s total of 822,448.
ABP Short Sea Ports Director, Andrew Harston said: “The tonnage of grain we have seen handled at the Port of Ipswich in the recent harvest year signifies the importance of the East Anglian farming community.
“Britain has always had a strong role in exporting grains such as wheat to the rest of Europe. But following a steady grain season and the recent decline in the value of sterling, the export of wheat and other grain commodities has never been more competitive.
“Our customers Nidera and Clarkson Port Services, who operate the Ipswich Grain Terminal and Sentinel Terminal respectively, have seen tremendous results this year and we look forward to working with them to ensure further success in the 2016/17 year.”
In the first half of 2016 alone, 563,760 tonnes of grain were exported from the Port of Ipswich - an increase from the first half of 2015 which saw 368,795 tonnes exported.
In the last 12 months 750 ships have called at the Port of Ipswich, a 17 per cent increase from the previous harvest year.
