Forecast: Volume of National Coastal Shipping in the UK

In 2023, the volume of national coastal shipping in the UK stood at an actual value of 23.89 billion tonne kilometers. Based on the forecasted data from 2024 onwards, a consistent decline is observed. In 2024, the volume drops to 22.94 billion tonne kilometers, which represents a year-on-year decrease of approximately 3.98%. This trend of diminishing volumes continues with the following year-on-year decreases: 2025 shows a 4.1% decline to 22.0 billion tonne kilometers, 2026 a 4.18% decline to 21.08 billion tonne kilometers, 2027 a 4.32% decrease to 20.17 billion tonne kilometers, and finally, 2028 a 4.49% drop to 19.26 billion tonne kilometers.

Analyzing the variations over the last two years from 2026 to 2028, the volume decreased by 9.33%. The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) over the forecasted period from 2024 to 2028 indicates an average annual decrease of approximately 4.21%.

Future trends to watch for include potential shifts in environmental regulations impacting shipping practices, increased competition from alternative transport modes like rail and road, advancements in shipping technology for efficiency, and economic factors influencing trade volumes.