Freight News, Sea


Aviation fuels lift-off for Port of London cargo

[ November 14, 2025   //   ]

The Port of London handled 14.7m tonnes in the three months to end September, the third consecutive quarter of growth, said the Authority’s quarterly trade report.

While trade in aggregates and products used in construction have fallen, there have been notable spikes in the trade of oil, where imports increased by 19%, and ethanol, which saw a marked increase to the highest ever recorded level through the port. The rise in imports of ethanol – used in sustainable aviation fuel – comes after the UK and US agreed a tariff-free import quota for US ethanol, and at a time when UK ethanol production seems to be winding down.

As usual, trade continued to be heavily made up of imports – accounting for about 80% of trade but exports are running at higher than they were last year. Container vessels accounted for 51% of all tonnage through the port this year. Containers increased again this quarter albeit more modestly than in previous quarters.

Chief finance officer at the Port of London Authority, Steve Lockwood, said: “Trade through the Port of London remains strong and to see quarter-on-quarter growth yet again speaks to the resilience and attractiveness of the port. The diversity of trade – with significant growth in oil and, in particular, ethanol, seems to follow the geo-political moves relating to trading tariff arrangements. While these situations evolve, it is encouraging to see global trade is seeing and embracing the opportunities of coming through the UK’s biggest port.” 

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