The British Ports Association (BPA) has welcomed the publication of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) annual UK port freight statistics for 2025, which show that UK ports handled 428.3 million tonnes of freight during the year, a decrease of less than 1% compared with 2024.
While overall freight volumes remained broadly stable, the latest figures reveal significant changes in the types of cargo moving through UK ports, reflecting wider shifts in trade, energy and the economy.
Container traffic recorded the strongest growth, increasing by 10% to 66.9 million tonnes, driven by strong import demand and additional capacity at DP World London Gateway. The increase saw London overtake Felixstowe as the UK’s largest container (Lo-Lo) port by tonnage.
By contrast, liquid bulk traffic fell by 2%, reflecting continued declines in crude oil movements linked to changing North Sea production and refinery activity. However, increased imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) helped Milford Haven become the UK’s third busiest port by total tonnage.
Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) traffic decreased by 2% to 97.0 million tonnes, although it remained the second largest cargo category handled by UK ports. Dry bulk traffic also declined by 3%, continuing longer-term reductions in traditional bulk commodities such as coal and ores.
“The growth in container traffic demonstrates the importance of continued investment in port infrastructure to support future trade. At the same time, declines in some traditional bulk cargoes reflect structural changes in the wider economy rather than the performance of ports themselves.
UK ports are constantly evolving to meet changing demand, and these figures underline the sector’s resilience and its continuing role at the heart of the nation’s trade and supply chains.”
The BPA has also produced an accompanying analysis ranking the UK’s leading ports by cargo type using the latest DfT statistics, including the top ports for container, roll-on roll-off, liquid bulk, and dry bulk traffic, exclusively for members. The full UK Port Freight Statistics 2025 are available on the GOV.UK website.