Port freight annual statistics 2025: Overview of port freight statistics and useful information
Published 29 July 2026
漏 Crown copyright 2026
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You can use our听听to explore port freight trends.
Things you need to know
This statistical release provides information on freight handled at UK sea ports. Port freight statistics are based on a combination of data reported to the Department for Transport (DfT) by port authorities and shipping lines, or their agents.鈥�
Ports are split into major and minor ports. In 2025, there are 51 major ports, which handle at least 1 million tonnes of cargo annually or are strategically important. Most of this publication covers major port data, as more detail is collected from these ports, such as cargo category and route taken.鈥�
Cargo is categorised based on how goods are loaded onto or off the vessel.鈥�
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鲍苍颈迟颈蝉别诲鈥痶谤补蹿蹿颈肠: only container (Lo-Lo) and roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) freight services can be measured in units, which relates to how the cargo was鈥痗ontained. For example, a shipping container, a trailer, or a passenger car is 1 unit. Apart from passenger vehicles, all unitised traffic can also be measured in tonnage. All other categories (liquid bulk, dry bulk and other general cargo) are only measured in tonnage.鈥�
叠耻濒办鈥痗补谤驳辞: unpackaged and transported in鈥痩arge quantities, either in liquid or granular form, in the hold of the vessel. Examples include crude oil,鈥痗oal and gravel. This is typically dropped or poured into a hold, and is unloaded via suctions,鈥痵crew鈥痮r grabber. See the cargo categorisation听guidance for detail on the categorisation of types of cargo.鈥�
Inwards 补苍诲鈥痮utwards: refers to the direction of travel at UK ports, and includes both domestic (for example, traffic between Liverpool and Belfast) and international traffic鈥�(imports鈥共曰邂�痚xports). The port of loading or unloading is also recorded, which refers to the port where the cargo is loaded or unloaded from the ship. This may not be the port of ultimate origin or destination鈥痮f the goods. For example, if a ship carrying cargo from Asia unloads cargo at a European port which is then put on听another ship to the UK, our statistics will鈥� state the port of load as the European port, rather than the port in Asia. This鈥痯ractice of cargo changing鈥痵hip鈥痠s known as transhipment.鈥�
These are听 and were independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation in December 2018. For more information, see the听About these statistics section.
Overview of port freight statistics听
In 2025, all UK ports handled a total of听428.3听million tonnes. Tonnage听showed听little change, decreasing by听less than 1%听from 2024听to 2025, following a听1%听decline the previous year.听This is the lowest level since this current time series began in 2000. When looking at the extended time series (only available for all ports tonnage), 2025 is also the lowest level seen since 1981.
Major ports account for the majority of UK traffic, handling听419.5听million tonnes in 2025, compared to just听8.8听million tonnes handled by minor ports, as shown in Chart 1.听Major port tonnage showed听little change听in 2025 (down less听than听1%听compared to 2024).听Minor port traffic declined by听2%听from 2024 to 2025.
While total port freight tonnage showed little change in 2025, this masks听more substantial听changes in different cargo听groups听with large increases in containers (up听10% from 2024),听but declines in other cargo听groups, following shifts in energy markets, global trade patterns听(including UK exit from the European Union)听and changes to UK port infrastructure. These听changes听are听explored听further听in the听cargo听trends chapter听补苍诲听迟丑别 international routes trends chapter.
Chart 1: Major and minor port traffic from 2000 to 2025 (PORT0101)
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Chart 2 shows that of听total international and domestic traffic,听imports accounted for the majority of UK major port tonnage traffic in 2025 (237.5听million tonnes), followed by exports (98.6听million tonnes), and听finally听domestic听traffic (83.3听million tonnes). Compared to 2024, imports increased by听2% in 2025, while exports decreased by 4%. The higher volume of imports reflects the UK鈥檚 position as a net importer of goods, in line with听 of a consistent .
These contrasting听trends听in import and export tonnage traffic听meant that, in 2025, overall international traffic remained at similar听levels to听2024, increasing by less than听1%听to 336.1 million tonnes. Domestic traffic fell by听3%听in 2025, driven by a decline in coastwise movements of other dry bulk. These听trends are听explored听further听in the 听international routes trends chapter and the domestic trends chapter.
Chart 2: Major port international freight by direction and domestic freight from 2000 to 2025 (PORT0205)
Chart 3 shows that London accounted for听13%听of UK major port tonnage traffic handled in 2025, more than any other UK port and consistent with previous years. This was closely followed by Grimsby and Immingham, which accounted for听11%听of tonnage traffic. Milford Haven, which accounted for听9%听of tonnage traffic,听overtook Southampton听in 2025听to听become the third听largest听port.听This was driven by an increase in liquified natural gas (LNG) handled at Milford Haven听(explored further in the听cargo trends chapter).听The top 10听sea ports听accounted for听73%听of all traffic at UK major ports in 2025.鈥���
听Chart 3: Top 10 major ports by tonnage, 2025听(PORT0301)
Cargo group trends听
Chart 4 补苍诲鈥�Table 1 show trends in UK major port tonnage by cargo group. While overall tonnage听showed听little change听in 2025 from 2024听(down less than 1%), the trends听differ between鈥痗argo groups.听听
听Chart 4: UK major port tonnage by cargo group from 2000 to 2025听(PORT0201)
Table 1: UK major port tonnage by cargo group in 2025 and percent changes from 2024 听(PORT0201)听
| Cargo Group | 2025 tonnage (million tonnes)听 | % change from 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid Bulk听 | 160.0 | -2%听 | 听 |
| Ro-Ro听 | 97.0 | -2% | 听 |
| Dry听Bulk听 | 78.7 | -3% | 听 |
| Containers (Lo-Lo)听 | 66.9听 | 10% | 听 |
| Other General Cargo听 | 16.9听 | -0.5% | 听 |
Liquid bulk, the largest cargo鈥痗ategory, has had a general downward trend since 2000. Consistent with last year, liquid bulk had the largest absolute decline of all cargo groups in 2025, down 3.1听million tonnes (2%) from 2024. This was driven by declines in crude oil听because of听the听closures of at Grimsby and Immingham and听听at Clyde.听However, increases in other liquid bulk cargo types, in particular LNG, did offset the overall magnitude of this decline.
Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) had the second largest decline of听2.3听million tonnes, down 2%听from 2024 to 2025.听
Dry bulk had the third largest decline of听2.2听million tonnes, down听3%听from 2024 to 2025.听Decreases of ores contributed most to the total dry bulk decline, following the听. For the first time, in 2025, wood pellets are presented as a separate cargo type within the dry bulk category (previously categorised under 鈥榦ther dry bulk鈥�) to reflect increased interest of this type of cargo.听
Container (Lo-Lo) traffic had the largest absolute increase of any cargo group of 6.2听million tonnes, up 10% from 2024 to 2025.听The increase was听largely driven by increases in container traffic at London, following the听,听which provided听additional听capacity to handle container volumes.听
Other general cargo remained broadly stable in 2025 compared with 2024听with less than a 1% decrease.听From 2025, wind turbines are presented as a separate cargo type within the other general cargo category.听This addition provides greater detail on wind turbine movements,听which are linked to the听growth of renewable energy infrastructure and the听UK鈥檚 expansion of offshore wind capacity.听听
Further details are reported in the听cargo trends chapter.听
Port level cargo trends听
Chart 5 shows the top 3 major ports听per听cargo group听by tonnage听for听2024 and 2025.听听
Chart 5: Top 3 major ports tonnage by cargo group,听2024 to 2025听(PORT0303)
London recorded the largest increase among the top 3 ports that听handled container traffic, increasing by听38%听from 2024 to听19.6听million听tonnes听in 2025. This increase was听driven by the听, and brought London container traffic to similar levels to Felixstowe (19.3 million听tonnes).
London听remained听the largest dry bulk handling port, despite a听6%听decline from 2024 to 12.4 million听tonnes听in 2025. By contrast, dry bulk traffic increased at Grimsby and Immingham, rising听by 26% from 2024 to听11.9听million听tonnes听in 2025, narrowing the gap with London.听听
Milford Haven furthered its position as the UK鈥檚 largest liquid bulk port, with volumes rising to听37.5听million听tonnes听in 2025, a听17%听increase from 2024. This increase was mostly driven by an听increase in liquified natural gas (LNG) handled at the port.听听
Ro-Ro听traffic showed the least movement between 2024 and 2025 across the top 3 major ports. Dover听remained听the largest Ro-Ro port despite a听3%听decline from 2024 to 18.5 million tonnes in 2025. By contrast, Grimsby and Immingham handled 2% more Ro-Ro in 2025 compared to 2024, rising to听16.3听million听tonnes.
Further details are reported in the cargo trends chapter.
Background information听
The PORT data tables give further听detail听of the key results presented in this statistical release. They are available from听port and domestic waterborne freight听statistics.听
These听notes听provide further information such as definitions and a list of UK听ports is听available in the accompanying听port听list.听
The听background quality听report provides further information on how the data is collected, quality听assured听and comparisons with relevant data sources.听
Details of Ministers and officials who receive pre-release access to these statistics up to 24 hours before release can be found on the听pre-release access听list.听
Related data sources听
His Majesty鈥檚 Revenue and Customs (HMRC)听publishes听data on tonnage and value to a much more granular commodity level for goods traded internationally. Comparisons between port freight and this source, specifically for certain cargo categories, are explored further in听our听notes and听definitions.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (formerly Department for Business,听Energy听and Industrial Strategy)听publish听the听Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) which covers the production and consumption of fuels and energy in the UK.听
Information on freight moved by different modes, including a breakdown of domestic freight, is available in听Transport Statistics Great听Britain.听
publish comparative port freight data for European Union countries, which can be used to compare UK ports to those in EU countries.听
About these Statistics听
These official statistics were independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation in December 2018. They听comply with听the standards of trustworthiness, quality听and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics and should be labelled听.听
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