Accredited official statistics

Road goods vehicles travelling to Europe: 2023

Published 23 May 2024

About this release

These are accredited official statistics and were independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation in December 2016. Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. For more information, see about these statistics section.

This statistical release summarises the number of trips made by road goods vehicles travelling from Great Britain (GB) to Europe. The release also provides information on whether the road goods vehicles were powered vehicles or unaccompanied trailers, and which country they were registered in.

The information is collected from ferry operators and Eurotunnel each quarter, using the Roll-on-Roll-off survey (also called ’RoRo’). This covers all ferry routes from GB to Europe, including the Channel tunnel.

Please note that domestic routes within the UK and routes to Northern Ireland have been excluded from the main findings of this release.

Important note for users

Following a review of data in Autumn 2023, it was discovered that one of our data suppliers had erroneously included vehicles that did not fall under the correct definitions for this publication.

Revisions have been made to data from October 2021 to June 2023. A detailed explanation of the impact on the data can be found within the revision note.

Note: Due to rounding, totals may not appear to equal the sum of their parts and percentage change figures are calculated using non-rounded figures.

Definitions

Quarter: a calendar year quarter. In this publication, quarter 1 refers to January to March, quarter 2 refers to April to June, quarter 3 refers to July to September, and quarter 4 refers to October to December.

Powered vehicles: are Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) that weigh more than 3.5 tonnes and can be driven by a driver. This includes rigid lorries, tractors and trailers (counted as 1 unit) and tractive units only.

Unaccompanied trailers: include tow-bar trailers and articulated semi-trailers, not accompanied on the ferry by a powered unit.

In 2023, road goods vehicles made 2.78 million trips from GB to Europe, a 9% decrease compared to the previous year and 19% below the 2015 to 2019 average.

Infographic 1: Total number of trips made by road goods vehicles travelling from GB to Europe, split into powered vehicles and unaccompanied trailers, 2023 (Table RORO0101)

This release summarises trips by road goods vehicles, which are made up of powered heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and unaccompanied trailers.

Road goods vehicles travelling from GB to Europe in 2023 made 2.78 million trips, a 9% decrease compared to 2022 (3.07 million trips) and 19% below the annual average from 2015 to 2019 (3.43 million trips).

Of which powered vehicles made 1.77 million trips in 2023, down 11% compared to 2022 (1.99 million trips) and 27% below the 2015 to 2019 annual average (2.42 million trips). Unaccompanied trailers made 1.02 million trips in 2023, down 6% compared to 2022 (1.08 million trips) but slightly above the 2015 to 2019 annual average (1.01 million trips).

Chart 1: Number of trips made by road goods vehicles travelling from GB to Europe, quarterly from 2012 to 2023, broken down into powered vehicles and unaccompanied trailers (Table RORO0101)

All road goods vehicles

The total number of trips by road goods vehicles travelling to Europe was on an upward trend from 2012 to 2015, followed by a relatively stable period between 2015 and 2019 (Chart 1).

There was larger than usual volatility between 2019 and 2021 (Chart 1), with the number of trips in 2021 12% below the 2015 to 2019 average. This coincided with the end of the transition period for the United Kingdom (UK) leaving the European Union (EU) and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

From 2022, the number of trips has been declining reflecting the ongoing challenges in the international road freight industry, including disruptions to P&O Ferries, reported disruption to some global supply chains and the effect of high inflation in 2022 and 2023. However, it is not possible to isolate the potential impact of any of these individual factors.

Powered vehicles and unaccompanied trailers

For powered vehicles, the total number of trips increased from 2.0 million in 2012 to a peak of 2.5 million in 2016, before falling to 2.3 million trips in 2019 (Chart 1).

The number of trips by unaccompanied trailers is historically lower than powered vehicles but was steadily increasing up to 2019, from 0.8 million in 2012 to 1.1 million in 2019 (Chart 1).

Between 2019 and 2021, trends for both powered vehicles and unaccompanied trailers were volatile. From 2022 onwards there was a steady decline of trips by powered vehicles, while trips by unaccompanied trailers remained relatively stable (Chart 1).

Trips by powered vehicles in 2023 were 11% lower than 2022 and 27% below the 2015 to 2019 average, while trips by unaccompanied trailers were 6% lower than 2022 but the same level as the 2015 to 2019 average.

Chart 2: Number of trips made by road goods vehicles travelling from GB to Europe, shown with typical variation from the 2015 to 2019 average, quarterly between 2015 and 2023 (Table RORO0101)

Chart 2 illustrates the number of trips made by road goods vehicles travelling from GB to Europe between 2015 and 2023, as well as the amount of variation from the 2015 to 2019 average.

The average number of trips per quarter between 2015 and 2019 was 0.86 million. The typical variation from this figure is shown by the standard deviation, which at 0.027 million trips indicates the number of trips has typically been between 0.83 and 0.88 million trips (0.027 million higher or lower than the 0.86 million average) over this 5-year period.

The number of trips has been below the 2015 to 2019 average in each quarter since 2021 quarter 1, potentially reflecting ongoing challenges within the industry.

1. Powered vehicles: UK-registered and foreign-registered vehicles travelling to Europe

Note: This section only covers powered vehicles. The country of registration is not collected for unaccompanied trailers. In this release, powered vehicles refer to heavy goods vehicles that can be driven by a driver.

Since the earliest comparable data in 2004, trips by foreign-registered powered vehicles have outnumbered trips by UK-registered powered vehicles.

Infographic 2: Total number of trips made by powered vehicles travelling from GB to Europe, split into UK-registered and foreign-registered vehicles, 2023 (Table RORO0101)

Note: The sum of UK-registered and foreign-registered vehicles may not equal the total number of powered vehicles due to rounding. Among powered vehicles, there were a further 0.004 million vehicles (less than 0.5%) where the country of registration was completely unknown.

UK-registered vehicles made 0.26 million trips in 2023, this is a 5% decrease compared to 2022 (0.27 million trips) and a 26% decrease compared to the 2015 to 2019 average (0.35 million trips).

Foreign-registered vehicles made 1.51 million trips in 2023, this is a 12% decrease when compared to 2022 (1.72 million) and a 26% decrease compared to the 2015 to 2019 average (2.03 million trips).

Chart 3: Number of trips made by UK and foreign-registered powered vehicles travelling from GB to Europe, quarterly, 2004 to 2023 (Table RORO0101)

Note: Since January 2022, it has been necessary to estimate the country of registration for approximately 30,000 to 40,000 trips per quarter. Based on information from the ferry operators, we estimate these to be foreign registered vehicles, but the specific foreign country of registration is unknown.

Trips by foreign-registered vehicles

The number of trips by foreign-registered powered vehicles saw an initial increase from 2004 to 2007. As the 2008 recession hit, the number of foreign-registered vehicles declined, with a recovery seen from 2013 onwards (Chart 3).

Vehicle numbers fluctuated between 2016 and 2019, likely due to the UK’s expected withdrawal from the EU, followed by a sudden decline in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and further volatility in 2021 after the end of the EU exit transition period. The number of foreign-registered vehicles has continued to decline throughout 2022 and 2023 (Chart 3).

Trips by UK-registered vehicles

The number of trips by UK-registered powered vehicles has gradually declined since 2004. A sudden decline was seen during 2020 and 2021, likely a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the end of the EU exit transition period. Although there was some recovery towards the end of 2021, during 2022 and 2023, the number of UK-registered vehicles has continued to decline.

2. Powered vehicles: Country of vehicle registration

Definition

The country of vehicle registration is the country where the powered vehicle is registered to, regardless of where it has travelled from, or the nationality of the driver. The country of vehicle registration is not collected for unaccompanied trailers.

The proportion of trips made by powered vehicles travelling from GB to Europe that are registered to Western European countries such as the UK, Netherlands, Germany and France has fallen since Eastern European countries such as Poland and Romania joined the EU.

UK-registered vehicles were the most common powered vehicles making trips to Europe prior to 2013; however, UK vehicles are now second, with a 14% share (273,000 trips).

Poland is currently the most commonly seen country of vehicle registration. When Poland first joined the EU in 2004 it had a 3% share (60,000 trips) compared to a 17% share in 2023 (307,000 trips).

Since Romania joined the EU, its share of trips made by powered vehicles travelling from GB to Europe has risen from 1% in 2007 (26,000 trips) to 8% in 2023 (134,000 trips) making it the third most common country of vehicle registration.

Infographic 3: Number of trips made by powered vehicles travelling from GB to Europe, by country of vehicle registration, 10 year comparison (Table RORO0201)

During 2023, the top 3 countries of vehicle registration were Poland (307,000), UK (256,000) and Romania (134,000).

In comparison, during 2013 the top 3 countries of vehicle registration were Poland (412,000), UK (389,000), and the Netherlands (203,000). Romania has since replaced the Netherlands in the top 3, rising from fifth in 2013 (128,000), while the Netherlands has fallen to the fourth ranked country of vehicle registration (128,000) in 2023.

3. Port Groups

Definitions

Dover Strait: ferry routes from ports in Dover, Folkestone and Ramsgate; along with road goods vehicles using the Channel Tunnel.

English Channel: all ports on the south coast of GB, west of Folkestone.

Irish Sea: all ports on the west coast of GB.

North Sea: all ports on the east coast of GB, north of and including the Thames estuary.

All road goods vehicles

In 2023, more vehicles left GB via the Dover Strait port group (53%) than all the other port groups combined. However, different trends can be seen for powered vehicles and unaccompanied trailers.

Powered vehicles

Of the 1.8 million trips made by powered vehicles, the majority (82%) left GB via the shorter routes on the Dover Strait port group.

Unaccompanied trailers

Of the 1.0 million trips made by unaccompanied trailers, the majority (70%) travelled via the longer North Sea port group routes. Unlike powered vehicles only 1% of unaccompanied trailers left GB via the Dover Strait port group. Detailed statistics can be found in Tables RORO0301, RORO0401 and RORO0501.

Chart 4: Total number of trips made by road goods vehicles travelling from GB to Europe by port group and type, 2023 (Table RORO0301)

Port Group	Powered vehicles	Unaccompanied trailers
Dover Strait	1,452,707	14,684
North Sea	146,474	712,965
Irish Sea	129,152	265,149
English Channel	40,226	22,829

Chart 4 shows that of the 2.8 million trips made by all road goods vehicles travelling from GB to Europe:

• the Dover Strait had 1.47 million trips (53%) off which 1.45 million were by powered vehicles (99%) and 0.01 million by unaccompanied trailers (1%)

• the North Sea had 0.86 million trips (31%) of which 0.15 million were by powered vehicles (17%) and 0.71 million by unaccompanied trailers (83%)

• the Irish Sea had 0.39 million trips (14%) off which 0.13 million were by powered vehicles (33%) and 0.27 million by unaccompanied trailers (67%)

• the English Channel has 0.06 million trips (2%) of which 0.04 million were by powered vehicles (64%) and 0.02 million by unaccompanied trailers (36%)

Note: figures rounded to 2 decimal places.

4. Country of disembarkation

Definition

The country of disembarkation is the country of the foreign port where the vehicle leaves the roll-on roll-of ferry. This is not necessarily the final destination of the vehicle.

All road goods vehicles

While the majority of the 2.8 million trips made by road goods vehicles travelling from GB to Europe disembarked in France (55%), 21% disembarked in the Netherlands, 14% in the Republic of Ireland and 9% in other countries.

Large differences can be seen when comparing powered vehicles and unaccompanied trailers.

Powered vehicles

Of the 1.8 million trips made by powered vehicles, 84% disembarked in France (via the Dover Strait), 8% disembarked in the Netherlands and 7% in the Republic of Ireland (these countries being the overall top 3 biggest nations of disembarkation). Less than 0.5% disembarked in other countries.

Unaccompanied vehicles

Of the 1.0 million trips made by unaccompanied trailers, the Netherlands (via the North Sea) was the biggest single country of disembarkation accounting for 44% of all trips, while the Republic of Ireland accounted for 26% of trips and France just 4%. The remaining 25% disembarked in other countries.

Note: ‘other’ is predominantly Belgium, along with Denmark, Germany, Estonia and Finland.

Chart 5: Number of trips made by road goods vehicles travelling from GB to Europe by country of disembarkation, 2023 (Tables RORO0301, RORO0401, RORO0501)

5. Data source and more information

Accompanying data tables which give further detail on the key results presented in this statistical release are available.

The statistics in this publication are compiled from a census of all roll-on roll-off ferry operators in GB, as well as Eurotunnel.

Further information about the statistics and methodology in this report can be found in the Roll-on Roll-of International Freight Statistics notes and definitions.

Other statistics related to freight and trade are available.

Domestic road freight: 2022

International road freight: 2022

ONS UK trade statistical bulletins

Port freight annual statistics: 2022

Rail Statistics factsheet: 2023

Aviation statistics

Please contact road freight statistics if you have any questions about DfT road freight statistics.

6. About these statistics

These statistics were independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation in December 2016. They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics and should be labelled ‘accredited official statistics’.

The continued designation of the road freight statistics as accredited official statistics was confirmed following a compliance check by the Office for Statistics Regulation against the Code of Practice in July 2016.

7. Strengths and weaknesses of data

There is some uncertainty about the exact numbers of trips made by vehicles registered in any particular country. This is because information on the country of registration is derived by some operators from the vehicle registration mark, while others estimate the nationality from the manifest or waybill, or in some cases, use the country of booking as a proxy for the country of registration.

Data for vehicles registered to the Republic of Ireland between April 2013 and June 2021 have been excluded from table RORO0201 and RORO1001 of this release. This is because some licence plate recognition applications were unable to identify licence plates from the Republic of Ireland during this period. Data prior to April 2013 and following June 2021 is unaffected and can be found in table RORO0201 and RORO1001.

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10. Contact us

Road freight statistics

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