UK port traffic by quarter
Tonnage handled at each major UK port every quarter since 2009, inward and outward.
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | Q4-2023 | Q3-2023 | Q2-2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonnage, both directions54 | ||||||||||||||
| Tonnage inward54 | ||||||||||||||
| Tonnage outward54 | ||||||||||||||
| Freight units, both directions54 | ||||||||||||||
| Freight units inward54 | ||||||||||||||
| Freight units outward54 |
Latest reading
Total at all major ports stood at 101,355.59 Thousand tonnes in Q2 2026. That is −3.3% from Q1 2026 and −4.5% from a year earlier. The series on this page is quarterly and runs from Q1 2009 to Q2 2026. Source: GOV.UK official statistics.
- Latest
- 101,355.59 Thousand tonnes
- Q2 2026
- vs previous period
- −3.3%
- Q1 2026
- vs a year earlier
- −4.5%
About this data
Tonnage handled at each major UK port every quarter since 2009, inward and outward. Port volumes turn before customs data does, which makes this the earliest hard read on UK trade.
Frequently asked questions
- What does UK port traffic measure?
- UK port traffic measures the total volume of freight handled at major UK ports, reported in both thousand tonnes and thousands of freight units.
- Which UK ports are included in this quarterly dataset?
- The data covers all major UK commercial ports individually, including Bristol, Fleetwood, Londonderry, Stranraer, Tees and Hartlepool, Cairnryan, Heysham, and Poole.
- Are both inward and outward freight movements tracked for UK ports?
- Yes, UK port statistics report inward, outward, and combined two-way traffic for both cargo tonnage and freight units.
- What time period is covered by the UK port traffic series?
- This official statistics dataset provides continuous quarterly freight and tonnage records for major UK ports since 2009.
