Port freight quarterly statistics: January to March 2024
Provisional quarterly statistics on freight handled by UK major ports for January to March 2024.
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From December 2023, we have discontinuedĀ PORT0501Ā from the quarterly port freight statisticsĀ due to low user engagement.Ā PORT0501Ā presented tonnage and unit totals at the national level as indices. National level tonnage and unit totals will remain available inĀ PORT0502.
We continue to welcome any feedback on any aspect of the port freight statistics (seeĀ contact details).
Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You are welcome toĀ contact usĀ directly with any comments about how we meet these standards.
When comparing January to March 2024 with January to March 2023 through UK major ports:Ā
- total freight tonnage decreased by 6% to 103.0 million tonnesĀ
- inward tonnage decreased by 3% to 69.6 million tonnesĀ
- outward tonnage decreased by 10% to 33.4 million tonnesĀ
- total volume of unitised traffic increased by 3% to 4.6 million unitsĀ
- inward units increased by 4% to 2.5 million unitsĀ
- outward units increased by 2% to 2.1 million unitsĀ
When comparing the rolling year to March 2024 with March 2023 through UK major ports:Ā
- total tonnage decreased by 6% to 419.8 million tonnesĀ
- total volume of unitised traffic increased by 3% to 20.9 million units
Detailed final annual statistics for 2023 will be published in July 2024. Annual trends can be explored using ourĀ .
Further information about these statistics is available, including:
- background informationĀ on quarterly port freight statistics
- notes and definitionsĀ for all port freight statistics
Contact us
Maritime and shipping statistics
Email maritime.stats@dft.gov.uk
Media enquiries 0300 7777 878
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