GovWire: All UK ports handled a total of 434.9 million tonnes in 2023
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Tonnage fell 5% from 2022 and 10% from 2019
In 2023, all UK ports handled a total of 434.9 million tonnes, reaching the lowest levels seen since 2000. Tonnage has declined 5% from 2022 and is down 10% since 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic, GovWire reported.
Below is a summary of the main points from the latest port freight trends in 2023:
- major port traffic decreased by 5% from 2022, falling to below pandemic levels
- minor port traffic declined by 3% from 2022, reaching the lowest levels seen from 2000
- domestic trafficdecreased by 3% from 2022, reflecting a decrease in coastwise and one port traffic
- international trafficdecreased by 6%, driven by a decline in imports and exports
- London handled the most tonnage traffic of all UK ports, accounting for 12% of all UK traffic, followed closely by Grimsby and Immingham (11%)
- liquid bulk saw the largest absolute decline of all cargo groups from 2022, followed by dry bulk