If you are importing goods from China to the UK, choosing the right port is one of the most profitable decisions you can make.
Why?
Because the UK has some of the highest inland haulage costs in Europe.
Here is the truth:
If your warehouse is in Manchester, but you ship to Southampton, you are wasting money. You could be paying up to £400 extra per container just for trucking.
In this guide, I’m going to show you the major UK ports, rank them by efficiency, and provide a complete reference list of the top 15 gateways to help you lower your landed cost.
Let’s dive in.
At a Glance: UK Port Rankings
Don’t have time to read the whole post? Here is the quick summary based on Department for Transport (DfT) data:
- Busiest Port: Felixstowe (~48% Market Share)
- Fastest Port: Southampton (First Call from China)
- Best for North: Liverpool (Cheapest for Manchester/Leeds)
- Best for London: London Gateway (Most Automated)
Felixstowe: The "Default" Choice for Importers
- Operator: Hutchison Ports
- Location: Suffolk (South East)
- UN/LOCODE: GBFXT
Felixstowe isn’t just a port. It’s the backbone of UK trade.
Handling over 4 million TEUs annually, it processes nearly half of all containerized imports entering the country.
The "Berth 8&9" Advantage
Why do carriers like Maersk and COSCO prefer Felixstowe?
Simple: Size.
Felixstowe’s Berths 8 & 9 are deep enough to handle the world’s largest container ships (24,000+ TEU). This means your goods arrive on direct “mother vessels” rather than being transshipped via Rotterdam.
But there is a catch...
Southampton: The Speed King (First Call)
- Operator: DP World
- Location: South Coast
- UN/LOCODE: GBSOU
Southampton is the second-largest container terminal in the UK.
But it has one huge advantage over Felixstowe: Speed.
The "Double Tide" Secret
Most ports are restricted by tides. Ships have to wait for high water to dock.
Southampton is different. It benefits from a unique “double tide” (high water twice a day).
According to DP World’s operational data, this allows vessels to dock for 15 hours a day unrestricted.
London Gateway: The Tech Hub for Amazon Sellers
- Operator: DP World
- Location: River Thames (Essex)
- UN/LOCODE: GBLGP
Opened in 2013, London Gateway is the most modern port in the UK.
It sits just 25 miles from Central London.
Why use it?
Two words: Amazon FBA.
If you are selling on Amazon, London Gateway is strategically located near the massive fulfillment centers in the South East (like LCY2).
Plus, it uses Automated Stacking Cranes (ASCs). This means the port can keep operating during high winds when older ports (like Felixstowe) have to close.
Liverpool: How to Save £400 on Inland Haulage
- Operator: Peel Ports
- Location: North West
- UN/LOCODE: GBLIV
Here is a crazy stat:
50% of the UK population lives closer to Liverpool than to the southern ports. Yet, most cargo still enters via the south.
The Liverpool2 deep-water terminal was built to fix this imbalance.
The "Green Highway"
If your warehouse is in Manchester, Leeds, or Glasgow, shipping to Liverpool is a no-brainer.
According to a Peel Ports study, you can:
- Reduce inland trucking by 200 miles.
- Save up to £400 in haulage costs per load.
- Cut your carbon footprint significantly.
Top 15 UK Ports Ranked by Commercial Importance
The following list ranks the top 15 UK ports based on strategic importance for importers, container volume (TEU), and regional connectivity.
While the “Big 4” (Felixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway, Liverpool) handle the majority of deep-sea cargo from China, knowing the specialized ports can help you find a better route for specific goods like cars, bulk materials, or project cargo.
Here is the definitive ranking:
| Rank | Port Name | Region | Primary Cargo | Best For… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Felixstowe | South East | Container (Deep Sea) | The UK’s busiest container port. Best for nationwide distribution. |
| 2 | Southampton | South Coast | Container / Ro-Ro | Speed (First call from Asia) & Vehicle imports. |
| 3 | London Gateway | London | Container (Automated) | Amazon FBA sellers & London Metro area delivery. |
| 4 | Liverpool | North West | Container / Grain | Cost savings for Manchester, Leeds & Northern England. |
| 5 | Immingham | Humber | Bulk / Energy | The UK’s largest port by total tonnage (Fuel/Biomass). |
| 6 | Grangemouth | Scotland | Container (Feeder) | The main gateway for Scotland (Glasgow & Edinburgh). |
| 7 | London Tilbury | South East | Paper / Ro-Ro | European trade, forestry products & construction materials. |
| 8 | Dover | South East | Ferry / Ro-Ro | The busiest ferry port for cross-channel trucking (France). |
| 9 | Teesport | North East | Chemicals / Steel | Heavy industry & chemical exports in the North East. |
| 10 | Bristol | South West | Cars / Jet Fuel | Major hub for car imports (Honda/Toyota) & aviation fuel. |
| 11 | Belfast | N. Ireland | Mixed / Ferry | The essential gateway for trade into Northern Ireland. |
| 12 | Hull | Humber | Timber / Ro-Ro | Short-sea trade with Northern Europe & timber imports. |
| 13 | Port of Tyne | North East | Cars / Logistics | Nissan car exports & regional logistics services. |
| 14 | Portsmouth | South Coast | Fruit / Ro-Ro | Fresh produce imports (famous for bananas) & short-sea. |
| 15 | Greenock | Scotland | Container / Cruise | West Coast of Scotland access & cruise tourism. |
Which Port Should You Choose?
When looking at ports in the UK, don’t just look at the ocean freight rate.
You need to calculate the Total Landed Cost (Ocean Freight + Customs + Trucking).
Here is my recommendation:
- Go Felixstowe if you want the most sailing schedules from Asia.
- Go Southampton if you need speed (First Call).
- Go Liverpool if your customer is in the North or Scotland.
Getting your goods to the port is only half the battle. Getting them through customs is the other half.
Since Brexit, you need to navigate the GVMS system and PVA (Postponed VAT Accounting).
At ZggShip, we provide a full DDP Shipping Service to the UK. We handle the customs clearance, pay the VAT/Duty, and book the truck.
Ready to get a quote?