New official data has highlighted a slight decrease in the level of UK port traffic during 2015 compared to the previous year.

According to the latest figures from the Department for Transport, total tonnage levels decreased slightly by one per cent compared to 2014, dropping to 496.7 million tonnes. This came despite a four per cent unit increase to 23.6 million units.

The main drivers in the growth of unitised traffic were seen in the container trade, which increased from 4.3 million units in 2014 to a record high of 5.7 million last year, while the motor vehicle trade maintained the positive trajectory it has seen since 2010.

The fall in tonnage was mostly driven by a 43 per cent decline in coal shipments and a 15 per cent drop for the ore trade. However, a number of positive trends were also seen, with movement of other dry bulk up by 13 per cent and liquefied gas shipments rising by 19 per cent.

Domestic traffic within all UK ports also increased for the second consecutive year by nine per cent to 107.9 million tonnes, with Britain currently importing more international goods than it exports.