The 2015 Port Freight statistics released by the Department for Transport (DfT) show that ABP’s Port of Ipswich is once again the UK’s leading export port for agricultural products, ABP says in a press release.
Last year, the port exported 910,000 tonnes of wheat, barley, beans and other agricultural products – 40 per cent more than the Port of London which was the second largest exporting port.
Overall, the port handled 1,147,000 tonnes of agricultural products, including 237,000 tonnes of imported products.
Short Sea Ports Director Andrew Harston said: “We are thrilled that Ipswich has been officially confirmed as the leading UK port for agricultural exports, a title we’ve held since 2010.”
“Increasing the tonnage of UK exports is not only vital to the UK economy but here in the Suffolk region, exporting these products is sustaining the livelihood for many farmers and their families.”
The Port of Ipswich is well-positioned for exporting crops grown in Suffolk and surrounding counties. ABP works closely with its two port service companies Ipswich Grain Terminal and Clarkson’s Port Services who provide the exporting services.
The DfT statistics showed that when taking into consideration the trade of imported agricultural products, the Port of Ipswich was placed fifth overall behind the ports of Belfast, Liverpool, London and Bristol respectively.
Mr Harston said: “The top four ports are much larger than Ipswich so we consider it quite an achievement to rank amongst these major UK ports. We are particularly proud that we are placed so high because of our exporting trade.”
In 2015, a total of 13,242,000 tonnes of agricultural products came in and out of the major UK ports.