Information on ship arrivals, foreign and domestic travel and cargo for 2018.
This is not the latest release in the series: Sea transport
Main points
Freight traffic at ports in Wales fell by 4.8 % in 2018 to 49.2 million tonnes (Mt), its lowest level since comparable records began in 1976.
Of traffic at major ports in Wales, 84.0 % was foreign traffic with 60.1 % being foreign imports. The majority of foreign imports and exports consisted of bulk traffic (for example crude oil, oil products, liquefied gas and ores).
Welsh ports also act as the gateway between the Republic of Ireland and the rest of Europe. Nearly three quarters (0.4 Mt) of goods carried on Irish registered heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) between the Republic of Ireland and Europe passed through Welsh ports. 71% of this traffic passed through ports in North Wales.
Over the long term, total sea passenger movement between the Republic of Ireland and Wales has declined. 75.5% of passengers travelling between the Republic of Ireland and Wales in 2018 used the route between Holyhead and Dublin.
Reports
Sea transport, 2018 , file type: PDF, file size: 1 MB
Contact
Ryan Pike
Telephone: 0300 025 6415
Email: stats.transport@gov.wales
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.