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Calais freight down but boost for rail

[ January 28, 2026   //   ]

Cross-Channel declined by 3.6% in 2025 to 1,714,187 heavy goods vehicles said the Port of Boulogne-Calais in its annual figures. It said this was in line with the general contraction of the market but, in a particularly challenging economic, geopolitical and regulatory environment, the port of Calais nevertheless demonstrated remarkable resilience.

Since Brexit in January 2021, cross-Channel freight traffic has fallen by nearly 15%, or more than half a million fewer heavy goods vehicles. Calais has managed to strengthen its competitiveness and gain 7 points of market share. Unaccompanied freight also saw a slight decline of 2%, at 43,343 trailers.

In 2025, combined transport services operated by VIIA continued to grow by 14% to 52,203 trailers and containers  with a strong Calais/Le Boulou route and a doubling of traffic on Calais/Sète. Opening of a new rail terminal at the port of Sète, equipped with Modalhor technology, will increase the service’s capacity from three to five weekly rotations.

After an encouraging end to 2024, new vehicle traffic for both imports and exports failed to reach expected levels in 2025 with the closure of the Stellantis plant in Luton in the second quarter having a significant impact on import volumes.

A total of 16,637 vehicles were handled at the port of Calais in 2025, a decrease of 33%. Nearly 90% of these flows came from imports, mainly from Turkey (nearly 9,000 units) and the United Kingdom (6,500 units).

The port adds that the outlook for 2026 looks much more favourable. The Charles André Group (GCA) has confirmed a contract for 35,000 Stellantis vehicles, starting in April, from the Hordain and Rennes plants to Sheerness.

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