Department for Transport statistics show that total freight traffic through UK ports was 2% down over last year, based on the rolling 12 months to the end of September 2012. In 2011, ports handled 519 million tonnes of freight traffic, an increase of 1% on 2010 but lower than the peak in 2005.
Over 10 years since 2001, UK imports have increased their tonnage by 9% but exports have decreased by 23% and domestic traffic has fallen by 18%.