UK Ports Half Year Results
Large decrease in UK seaport traffic in Q2 2020
Data released by the UK Department for Transport shows that tonnage via UK ports fell by 12% in the first half of 2020 compared to the same period in the previous year. Total tonnage for the first half was 209.5 million tonnes in 2020 (1st half) compared to 237.1 million tonnes in the first half of 2019. The drop was particularly noticeable in the second quarter where volumes were 96.1 million tonnes compared to 117.2 million tonnes in Q2 2019 (18% lower).
Statistics for unitised traffic show an even larger fall of 44% for the second quarter of 2020, but these figures are hard to interpret because they may include non-freight traffics such as trade cars and passenger cars. In terms of total units handled in the first half of 2020, Felixstowe was down 13% compared to the first half of 2019, and Southampton was down 23%. Dover was worst affected (down 34% in terms of half year units), no doubt heavily affected by the heavy impact on passenger car and coach traffic.
The British Ports Assocation, commening on the statistics mentioned that according to immigration figures there had been a 97% drop in passenger arrivals in April 2020 compared to the previous year, but that there had been some recovery in the following months. BPA also expect port freight volumes to pick up later in the year with companies stockpiling goods ahead of the next Brexit deadline at the end of 2020.