Trade in the UK’s Port of London in 2016 reached the highest this decade, rising 10 percent to top 50 million tons for the first time since 2008, the port said.
In 2016, the Port of London’s terminals handled 50.4 million tons of cargo, five million tons (or 11 percent) up on 2015.
Prior to 2016, port throughput had been increasing at between two to three percent, year-on-year, the port further adds.
“Our long term vision is for 60 to 80 million tonnes of cargo to be traded every year through the Port of London – more than at any time in the Thames’ history. Passing 50 million tonnes in 2016 is a major milestone towards this goal,” Robin Mortimer, PLA chief executive , said.
According to the Port of London, the growth was principally in oil trades which rose by 22 percent from 10.9 million tons in 2015 to 13.3 million tons in 2016. Additionally, containers and trailers were up 7 percent to 18 million tons.
2016 saw the first cargoes delivered to the Thames Oil Port, the former Coryton oil refinery site now redeveloped as a fuel terminal.
The port further said that DP World London Gateway handled increasing numbers of ultra large container ships which operate between Asia and Europe. In addition, testing of facilities on Berth Three at the deep-sea port started at the end of 2016.
The Port of London comprises over 70 independently owned and operated terminals and port facilities at different locations on the Thames.