Trade through the Port of London (PLA) reached a 50-year high in 2025, with volumes nearing 57 million tonnes, the strongest performance since 1973.
The Port of London Authority reports a 9 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase. Growth was led by container volumes, up 23 per cent, alongside gains in vegetable oils, grains and sugar.
Imports still dominate, accounting for around 80 per cent of throughput, but exports rose sharply by 30 per cent, signalling stronger outbound demand.
Longer-term trends point to structural shifts. Ethanol volumes, linked to sustainable aviation fuel supply chains, have increased by 60 per cent over four years.
READ: Port of London appoints Non-Executive Board Director
In contrast, sea-dredged aggregates, critical for construction, have fallen by roughly a third over the same period.
Fourth-quarter volumes eased by around 5 per cent on the previous quarter, in line with seasonal patterns, but remained higher YoY.
Port of London CEO, Robin Mortimer, said: “More trade is flowing through the port than at any time in the last 50 years and the diversity of that trade speaks to the resilience, reliability and versatility that the port delivers.”
Despite ongoing volatility in global shipping, the port continues to invest to support further expansion and maintain its role serving London, the South East and the wider UK economy.
The Port of London Authority, which reported record trade through the Port of London in 2025, strengthened its leadership in November 2024 with the reappointment of Jonson Cox CBE and Admiral Sir Philip Jones GCB DL to the PLA Board for second terms.
For more information:
Port of London Authority – https://pla.co.uk/
