Freedom of Information Team
S1715
6 Floor
Meliza Sestito
Central Mail Unit
Newcastle Upon Tyne
By email:
request-545545-
NE98 1ZZ
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Email
xxx.xxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xxx.xx
Web
www.gov.uk
Date: 05 February 2019
Our ref:
FOI2019/00165
Dear Meliza Sestito
Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)
Thank you for your request, which was received on 17 January, for the following information:
“I am requesting the figures for how many commercial shipping containers enter the UK's
ports either each day, month or year, whichever frequency you have.”
Under section 21 of the FOIA, we are not required to provide information in response to a
request if it is already reasonably accessible to you.
Some of the information you seek is available in an aggregated form and is published on the
websit
e www.uktradeinfo.com. This can be accessed from the data downloads at the link
here:
https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/DataDownloads.aspx. HMRC collects and publishes the UK’s Overseas Trade Statistics for the import and export
of goods physically moving across the UK border. This data is broken down by commodity at
Combined Nomenclature 8-digit commodity code level, and for time periods 1996-2018 for
trade with both EU and Non-EU countries. For Non-EU data, container information is
provided on the customs declaration where it is identified that goods have been ‘transported
by container’. This is provided as a yes/no answer in the data downloads link above.
Following a review of our records, I have established that HMRC does not hold the
information you requested for commercial shipping containers. This data is not collected nor
provided on the customs declaration.
The Department for Transport publishes the UK’s Port Freight Statistics at the link here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/port-freight-statistics-2017-final-figures. This
provides statistics on freight traffic at UK sea ports including breakdowns by cargo type such
as ‘Lo-Lo containers’ – shipping containers that are lifted on or off ships. This data may
provide further information on your request.
If you are not satisfied with this reply you may request a review within two months by
emailing
xxx.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xxx.xx, or by writing to the address at the top right-hand side
of this letter.
If you are not content with the outcome of an internal review you can
complain to the
Information Commissioner’s Office.
Information is available in large print, audio and Braille formats.
Text Relay service prefix number – 18001
Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Team
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