UK Container Traffic Rises 12% as Total Port Tonnage Falls

The headline number hides two different freight stories

Department for Transport data for April to June 2026 show total freight tonnage through UK major ports fell 5% year on year to 101.4 million tonnes. Inward tonnage decreased 4% to 68.6 million tonnes and outward tonnage fell 6% to 32.8 million tonnes.

But the decline was not broad-based across every cargo type. A large part of the overall fall came from liquid bulk, which dropped 15% year on year to 33.7 million tonnes. Container traffic moved in the opposite direction.

Container traffic is expanding

Container tonnage through UK major ports increased 9% year on year to 18.7 million tonnes in Q2 2026. Measured in units, container traffic rose 12% to 1.7 million units.

London recorded particularly strong growth. Container tonnage rose 19% to a record 6.0 million tonnes for the current quarterly series, while container units increased by 24%. The Department for Transport links the higher London throughput to the opening of the fourth berth at London Gateway.

Southampton also recorded higher container volumes, adding 49,000 units compared with the same quarter of 2025.

Why lower total tonnage does not automatically mean weaker container demand

Bulk cargoes, energy flows and unitised freight respond to different market drivers. In Q2 2026, liquid bulk volumes were affected by refinery closures, maintenance and energy-market changes, while container volumes continued to grow.

For forwarders and shippers, this distinction matters. Capacity pressure, terminal demand and equipment availability on containerised trade lanes can remain firm even when the national headline for total port tonnage is negative.

Ocean rates are easing on Asia–Europe — but capacity risk remains

Drewry's World Container Index stood at $4,500 per 40-foot container on 17 September 2026, up 1% week on week overall. On Asia–Europe, however, spot rates weakened: Shanghai to Rotterdam fell 9% to $3,626 per 40-foot container, while Shanghai to Genoa fell 5% to $4,016.

Lower spot rates can improve buying opportunities, but they do not remove schedule risk. Drewry expects 77 blank sailings across major East–West trades between week 39 and week 43, equal to an 11% cancellation rate. About 31% of those cancellations are concentrated on Asia–North Europe and Mediterranean trades.

What UK shippers should watch into October

The current market combines stronger UK container throughput, softer Asia–Europe spot pricing and continued carrier capacity management. That makes booking discipline important.

Shippers moving time-sensitive or seasonal cargo should monitor blank sailings, cut-off changes and equipment availability rather than assuming a lower spot rate automatically means easier execution. Where lead time matters, alternative sailings, earlier booking windows and clear contingency routing can be more valuable than waiting for the lowest possible rate.

The operational takeaway

The Q2 2026 UK port figures show why headline freight tonnage can be misleading for container logistics. Total tonnage fell, but container flows grew materially and London set a new quarterly record in the current series.

At the same time, ocean freight pricing is becoming more favourable on parts of the Asia–Europe market, while schedule reliability and blank sailings remain important risks. For freight buyers, the useful question is therefore not only 'what is the rate?' but also 'how reliable is the capacity behind it?'