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Information on ship arrivals, foreign and domestic travel and cargo for 2020.

These statistics relate to the 2020 calendar year. This period was affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the lead up to EU exit.

Main points

  • Total freight tonnage at Welsh ports decreased by 3.2% in 2020 to 51.3 million tonnes (Mt).
Image
Chart showing the levels of total freigh passing through welsh ports from 1976 to 2020.
  • Of total freight at major ports in Wales, 87.0% was foreign traffic with 74.8% of this traffic being imports. The majority of foreign imports and exports consisted of bulk products including crude oil, oil products, liquefied gas and ores.
  • Welsh ports act as the gateway between the Republic of Ireland and the rest of Europe. Over 80.0% of goods carried on Irish registered heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) between the Republic of Ireland and Europe passed through Welsh ports, equivalent to 0.5Mt. 72.5% of the total volume passed through Holyhead port.
  • Over the long term, total sea passenger movement between the Republic of Ireland and Wales has declined. In 2020 sea passenger traffic decreased by 60.3% in 2020 compared to 2019.

Reports

Sea transport: 2020 , file type: PDF, file size: 1 MB

PDF
1 MB
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Data

Datasets and interactive tools

Contact

James Khonje

Telephone: 0300 025 0210

Rydym yn croesawu galwadau a gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg / We welcome calls and correspondence in Welsh.

Media

Telephone: 0300 025 8099

Rydym yn croesawu galwadau yn Gymraeg / We welcome calls in Welsh.