London Gateway is fast emerging as a serious challenger to Felixstowe’s long-held status as the UK’s largest container port, after delivering a landmark performance in 2025 that appears to have significantly narrowed the gap between the two hubs.

Industry reports indicate that the Essex-based terminal handled more than 3m teu last year, surpassing that level for the first time. This represented an increase of more than 50% on 2024 volumes, when throughput was approximately 1.9m teu, underlining the scale and speed of the port’s expansion.

However, the surge in activity has not been without complications. Rising volumes placed heavy strain on terminal operations, resulting in congestion and longer vessel turnaround times. Conditions deteriorated further in June and July, when IT and power failures, combined with a rail-related disruption, created severe bottlenecks and prolonged delays.

Even so, London Gateway benefited substantially from changes to global liner networks. The addition of new deepsea services, including Asia–Europe loops operated through the Gemini Cooperation, helped drive significant volume gains at the expense of Felixstowe.

Felixstowe does not publish official container figures, but analysts estimate it handled around 3.6m teu in 2024. While volumes may have risen in 2025, the port was affected by Maersk shifting its Asia–North Europe Gemini calls to London Gateway, alongside MSC diverting one of its own services.

Elsewhere, Southampton also reported a robust year, exceeding 2m teu. Together, DP World’s UK terminals processed more than 5m teu in a national market estimated at just over 9m teu.

Looking ahead, London Gateway’s momentum is expected to continue, supported by a £1bn expansion programme that will add two berths and strengthen its long-term competitive position.