Annual UK port freight stats shows growth in unitised traffic and trade with Europe ahead of Brexit
The Department for Transport has today published its Annual UK Port Freight stats which shows that overall total freight tonnages handled by UK ports declined by 3% in 2016, to 484mt, British Ports Association said in its press release. The DfT attributes this decline to a large reduction in demand for coal imports, which is a direct consequence of changes to UK Government energy policy in recent years. Despite this, there has been growth in unitised traffics and trade with European countries, and British Ports Association Chief Executive, Richard Ballantyne, said:-
“The DfT’s figures highlight the significance of unitised traffic to the UK economy and particularly ‘Roll-on Roll-off’ HGV vehicle trade with Europe. This underlines the importance of agreeing a post Brexit deal with the EU that preserves as many of the advantages of Customs Union membership and avoids the need for border interventions, congestion and delays at Ro-Ro ports, whilst also enabling UK ports to take advantage of new global trade deals.”
