UK port freight tonnage: all international traffic
UK port freight tonnage: all international traffic stood at 341.26 million tonnes in 2025, according to GOV.UK official statistics. It is one of the indicators in the Port and waterborne freight table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 1965 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Port and waterborne freight table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freight tonnage | |||||||||||
| International, all traffic | 341.26 | 339.67 | 338.92 | 360.5 | 347.49 | 348.68 | 386.21 | 389.71 | 386.8 | 380.94 | |
| Domestic coastwise, inwards | 36.13 | 37.32 | 40.44 | 40.79 | 38.59 | 36.28 | 38.5 | 36.6 | 35.44 | 42.18 |
Understanding UK port freight tonnage: all international traffic
Combined sum of international cargo imports and exports handled at harbours throughout the United Kingdom measures total cross-border maritime trade volume. By pooling both directions of overseas shipping, this indicator provides a consolidated view of external trade intensity without distinguishing whether goods are arriving or departing. It isolates foreign-facing maritime activity from domestic coastal traffic, capturing the total physical exchange of goods between domestic ports and the rest of the world.
Assessing this combined external flow involves accounting for global macroeconomic conditions and shipping lane disruptions that impact transnational commerce. Analysts must note that balanced tonnage does not imply balanced trade value, as import and export weights often diverge significantly. Revisions to early estimates reflect delayed reporting from international carriers and subsequent reconciliation of customs data.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this combined international total include goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- No, trade between domestic regions is classified separately from international cross-border traffic.
- How does this series differ from the all-traffic port freight total?
- This measure excludes domestic coastwise and one-port traffic, focusing exclusively on international cargo exchanges.
- What causes discrepancies between early provisional figures and final annual releases?
- Late submission of shipping manifests and subsequent data validation by port operators lead to routine revisions.