New data published recently reveals that trade through the Port of London reached a 50-year-high in 2025, with almost 57 million tonnes coming through the Port – more than any year since 1973.
The PLA’s Annual Trade Report for 2025, shows year-on-year growth of 9%.
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The Port of London – already the UK’s biggest port – saw a rise in a number of areas of trade, with container cargo increasing by 23%, as well as increases in vegetable oil, grains and sugars.
And while the majority of trade serves importers, which still accounts for 80% of all tonnage, there has been a marked and encouraging rise in exports of 30%.
The Annual Trade Report also identified multi-year commodity trends. In particular, it notes that trade in ethanol, key to the UK’s efforts to move towards sustainable aviation fuel, has seen a significant growth in port trade – up by 60% over the last four years.
Over the same period aggregates from sea-dredging, essential to the construction industry, has declined by about a third.
These variations – one linked to the country’s progress towards net zero, the other integral in meeting homebuilding targets – might offer an insight into those ambitions.
Alongside the annual round up, the PLA also issued its trade report for Q4 of 2025. As is usual, it saw a seasonal drop – falling almost 5% compared to the previous quarter – but was up against the same quarter in 2024.
Robin Mortimer, CEO at the Port of London Authority, said: “It is a fantastic tribute to the customers and people working in the Port of London that the UK’s biggest port is getting even bigger. 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. In particular, I’m delighted to see exports rise by around a third. Thinking about the country’s ambitions for growth, it is a really encouraging sign to see customers exporting more goods through the Port of London to customers around the world. Clearly there is significant volatility in global trade and shipping at the moment. But today’s report illustrates how the Port of London remains very well placed to serve the South East and the rest of the country. We will continue to invest heavily to support plans for further growth over the coming years.”