National statistics

Port freight quarterly statistics: April to June 2021

Provisional quarterly statistics on freight handled by UK major ports for April to June 2021.

From:
Department for Transport
Published
8 September 2021

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Port freight quarterly statistics: April to June 2021

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Port freight quarterly statistics: April to June 2021 tables

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Details

Following user feedback, the department are trialling publishing estimates of cargo group alongside the quarterly port freight statistics, in a proposed third quarterly table PORT0503. This has been published containing current quarter data for the second time.

This new data is regarded as Experimental Statistics, awaiting user feedback and further quality assurance to provide timely estimates. You can provide feedback about this change by filling in this form. We continue to welcome any feedback on any aspect of the port freight statistics (see contact details).

When comparing April to June 2021 with April to June 2020 through UK major ports:

  • total freight tonnage increased by 13% to 110.7 million tonnes
  • all directions and metrics showed substantial increases, except for outward tonnage
  • inward tonnage increased by 22% to 74.8 million tonnes
  • outward tonnage decreased by 2% to 35.9 million tonnes
  • total volume of unitised traffic increased by 38% to 4.5 million units
  • inward units increased by 42% to 2.3 million units
  • outward units increased by 33% to 2.1 million units

Please note, we are now comparing to the quarter most affected by the UK lockdown (April to June 2020), so increases can be interpreted as a return to more normal levels.

When comparing the rolling year to June 2021 with the rolling year to June 2020 through UK major ports:

  • total tonnage decreased by 3% to 432.1 million tonnes
  • total volume of unitised traffic decreased by 9% to 18.5 million units

Detailed final annual statistics for 2020 were published in July 2021. The 2021 annual statistics will be published in summer 2022.

Further information about these statistics is available, including:

Contact us

Maritime and shipping statistics

Email maritime.stats@dft.gov.uk

Maritime statistics enquiries 020 7944 4847

Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

Published 8 September 2021

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