NEW YORK: Port of Southampton director Alastair Welch believes 2018 will be yet another record breaking year for the port as UK export volumes continue to soar.
This year looks set to be another record-breaking year at the Port of Southampton, according to director Alastair Welch.
Following on from the success of 2017, which saw the largest vessels in the world coming to Southampton and more than one million containers handled by the port, 2018 will see even larger mega-ships visiting.
Welch said: “This is set to be another important year for the port. Across automotive, cruise, containers and bulks we are anticipating another record-breaking year.
“We’ll be working hard to ensure the port continues to deliver the best possible service for our customers, maintaining its position as the nation’s gateway to the world.
“And in terms of investment, we will be spending an average of £75,000 a day on our infrastructure to meet the continuing needs of our customers.”
In recognition of the critical role the Port of Southampton plays in the UK’s prosperity, ABP has launched a new short film highlighting the Port of Southampton’s vital role as the nation’s ‘Gateway to the World’ (See the video below).
The Port of Southampton is the UK’s number one export port, handling £40bn of exports every year including 90% destined for countries outside the EU. The total trade handled by the port is worth some £75bn.
It is the UK’s number one port for automotive exports, providing British manufacturers with essential access to international markets and is also home to the UK’s second largest container terminal, handling around one million containers every year.
The port’s critical role has been cemented by more than £280m of investment over the past five years, including more than £50m in brand new state-of-the-art vehicle export facilities. The port’s newest vehicle terminal was recently opened by trade minister, Rt. Hon Greg Hands MP.
