Portsmouth International Port: a £195m boost for the city
Portsmouth International Port contributed £195m to the local economy, providing thousands of jobs while contributing £10.8m to Portsmouth City Council’s budget.
The council-owned port is a hub for ferries, cruises, and cargo ships, supporting both tourism and international trade. A recent report by independent analysts Oxford Economics highlights its economic impact on the city and the UK.
Using data from 2024, the report found the port supports 5,200 jobs nationwide and contributes £195m to the local economy and £400m nationally. For every £100 the port directly adds, a further £33 is generated through indirect and wider economic activity.
The port handled 2.9m tonnes of goods, with cargo valued at £7.5bn. The most traded products included power generators worth £2bn, vehicles valued at £0.8bn and transport equipment at £0.6bn. Fresh produce accounted for £0.6bn of trade.
The report also found port workers are 35 per cent more productive than the UK average.
Ferries remain vital to the port. A long-term deal with Brittany Ferries sees regular sailings to France and Spain, with more than 60 per cent of passengers travelling to Spain departing from Portsmouth.
Cruise operations have expanded. More than 131,000 passengers passed through the port last year, either starting their cruise or visiting Portsmouth as a destination. Cruise visitors are estimated to have spent £10.8m in the city.
Port director Mike Sellers said: “These latest findings demonstrate the vital role the port plays as a critical trade route for the UK.
“Our bold investment plans and strategic decisions to build resilience to manage the impact of changes to trade, has seen an increase in our cargo shipping operations, alongside our traditional ferry services.”
Council leader Cllr Steve Pitt said: “As the country’s most successful local authority owned port we’re proud of the role we play nationally, and the essential contribution we provide for our city’s residents towards social care and education.
“Portsmouth’s success benefits the whole city. This year the port will contribute £10.8 million to the council’s budget.”
Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather said the report showed the port’s “valuable role” and added: “UK shipping is vital to our national prosperity.”