UK ports face pressure as export growth slows

UK ports face growing pressure to balance infrastructure expansion with slower export growth, container imbalances and disruption to global shipping, according to insights from container supplier Cleveland Containers.

Office for National Statistics figures show UK goods exports fell by 2.1% in 2025, raising questions about future trade demand as ports invest in larger berths, deeper channels and expanded container-handling facilities to accommodate increasingly large vessels.

“Ports were not built with today’s ship sizes in mind, so expansion has become a permanent feature of the industry,” said Andrew Thompson, chief executive at Cleveland Containers.

“For businesses, that means paying attention to which ports are investing and which routes are under strain, because that increasingly determines lead times as much as the shipping schedule itself.”

The comments highlight the challenge facing port operators: ensuring investment delivers long-term competitiveness without creating excess capacity if cargo growth weakens. DP World’s expansion of London Gateway, including two new berths capable of handling the world’s largest container ships, illustrates the scale of infrastructure development under way. Other ports, including Belfast, Liverpool and Leith, have also attracted significant investment.

However, export uncertainty and rising freight costs, insurance premiums and transit times could affect cargo flows and shipping schedules. Ports may need to prioritise operational efficiency, reliable inland connections and flexibility alongside physical expansion to attract shipping lines and cargo owners.

Container imbalances present another challenge. An estimated 1.8 million 20ft containers sit idle globally at any given time, while the imbalance between imports and exports can increase the need to reposition empty units. For ports, surplus containers can occupy valuable space and add to handling demands, particularly where congestion is already affecting operations.

Thompson said repurposing retired containers for storage, workshops and temporary facilities could create additional value from surplus stock, provided units are moved away from operational areas.

With global shipping continuing to face disruption, ports that improve container utilisation, manage capacity carefully and strengthen supply-chain resilience could be better positioned to remain competitive as UK trade patterns evolve.