Half UK ports feel Brexit wont affect them
(Posted on 24/09/19)
Maritime industry professionals in the UK remain confident about the year ahead despite wider uncertainty, according to new data published by the British Ports Association today. Ports themselves are more likely to be worried about the economy over the next 12 months, however.
Confidence: Less than a third (29%) of ports feel confident about the economy in the next year, but 51% of the wider maritime industry feels confident. 83% of ports were planning investments into new business services, property or infrastructure in the next three months.
Brexit: The survey reveals that half of ports do not feel that Brexit will affect them (either negatively or positively) in the next year, whilst a third feel it will impact them negatively. This can be attributed to the structure of the industry (i.e. some ports will handle more non-EU trade, for example)
Employment: On the back of new figures last week showing that the ports industry directly employs 115,000 people, one third of ports that responded reported that they would be hiring additional staff in the next 12 months.
Revenue: 45% of ports that responded said that their revenue had gone up in the last 12 months, 26% said it was stable and 29% said it had dropped.
Top concerns: The economy was cited as the top concern by ports, closely followed by Brexit (which may be related). Environment/Climate Change (including regulation) was in third place. Maritime industry professionals cited Brexit, Environment/Climate Change (including regulation), and the economy as their top three concerns in that order.
Key takeaways for the British Ports Association:
- UK Ports policy is working and delivering a thriving and competitive independent sector. 83% are planning investment in new services or infrastructure and a third of ports surveyed are planning to hire new, additional, staff in the next year.
- Despite continuing political and economic uncertainty clouding the horizon, the majority of ports are confident about their business over the next year
- Two-thirds of port professionals are concerned about the economic outlook and a similar number are concerned about the impact of Brexit (which may be related). This is good news for the economy as jobs in the ports industry are 55% more productive than average
Commenting on the results, Phoebe Warneford-Thomson, Political and Economic Analyst at the British Ports Association said: 2The results of the BPA Business Confidence Survey reveal that ports are strong, resilient and performing well under the current economic climate.”
Latest News
Hamburg and Estonia deepen strategic port cooperation
(Posted on 29/05/26)Hamburg’s Senator for Economic Affairs, Dr Melanie Leonhard, has welcomed Estonia’s Minister... Read more
Associated British Ports appoints new Group Head of Property
(Posted on 29/05/26)Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK’s largest port operator and one of the UK’s biggest... Read more
Associated British Ports appoints new Group Head of Property
(Posted on 29/05/26)Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK’s largest port operator and one of the UK’s biggest... Read more
King and Minister open Rotterdam section of Netherlands hydrogen network
(Posted on 25/05/26)King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands has symbolically activated the first section of the national... Read more
Collaboration to explore alternative export hub on UAE East Coast
(Posted on 22/05/26)Abu Dhabi based AD Ports Group, a leading global enabler of integrated trade, industry and logistics... Read more
Hamilton welcomes new $135-million Sucro Can sugar refinery
(Posted on 14/05/26)Sucro Can Canada and HOPA Ports marked the official opening of Sucro Can’s new sugar refinery,... Read more
New Liebherr MHC enhances Belfast Harbour’s bulk handling capabilities
(Posted on 13/05/26)Belfast Harbour has made its latest investment in the development of the port with the arrival of a... Read more
Riga and AD Ports MoU marks new phase of cooperation
(Posted on 11/05/26)A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed in Riga between Abu Dhabi-based, publicly traded global... Read more
International conference “all about ports” launches in Hamburg
(Posted on 11/05/26)As an international conference accompanied by an exhibition, all about ports will address key future... Read more
ADMA satellite agreement to enhance efficient routing of minerals and agri products
(Posted on 04/05/26)Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy (ADMA), the Middle East region’s leading academic institution for maritime... Read more
