Freight volumes in UK ports rose two per cent to 586 million tonnes in 2005.
The Department for Transport has released national statistics confirming that last year inbound traffic rose by 3 per cent to 354 million tonnes, while outbound only rose by half a per cent to 231 million tonnes.
The statistics show that bulk traffic rose by two per cent, while container and roll-on roll-off traffic was up three per cent.
The number of containers increased by 150 thousand units, a rise of some three per cent and road goods vehicles and unaccompanied trailers increased by 155 thousand units, an increase of 2 per cent.
