New analysis challenges misleading and inaccurate claims that EU carbon pricing is diverting container traffic to Britain and warns against presenting normal port competition as regulatory avoidance.
Investment in new berths, deeper channels and larger container-handling facilities is driving the growing competitiveness of UK ports, according to new analysis from the British Ports Association (BPA), which challenges claims that EU carbon pricing is causing significant maritime carbon leakage to Britain.
Earlier this year the EU proposed measures to punish UK container ports on the basis that EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) is driving container shipping traffic from continental Europe to Britain. This is based on reports from the Spanish Government’s ‘EU ETS Observatory’ suggesting that a sharp increase in the UK’s share of Northern European container shipping activity was evidence of ‘carbon leakage’.
But new analysis challenges that conclusion, finding that the figures do not reflect actual changes in cargo volumes and overlook major investments and changes in global shipping networks.
UK container volumes grew strongly in 2025, but around 85% of that growth was concentrated in London following the opening of a new £350 million berth at London Gateway in late 2024. Meanwhile, major continental ports including Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges and Hamburg also recorded growth.
British ports have invested hundreds of millions of pounds to attract more ships and handle more cargo. Those investments are paying off and making the UK more competitive.
It would be extraordinary if the EU responded to that success by introducing new measures to penalise British ports. It is clear from all available evidence, and the EU’s own assessments and data, that increases in throughput in UK ports aligns with new port capacity becoming available.
We support efforts to reduce shipping emissions, but climate policy must be based on sound evidence, not assumptions that could damage competition and investment.
The Spanish ETS Observatory was established by Spain’s state port authority to investigate concerns about the competitiveness of Spanish ports and inform the Spanish Government’s position on the EU ETS.
The BPA is urging the UK Government and European Commission to reconsider the evidence before introducing measures that could harm the competitiveness of ports on both sides of the Channel.
