Humber Ports Reinforce Leadership in UK Seafood Imports, Show Significant Growth

Humber Ports Reinforce Leadership in UK Seafood Imports, Show Significant Growth

(IN BRIEF) The Humber ports, including Grimsby, Immingham, and Hull, have solidified their position as the UK’s leading hub for seafood imports, handling 41.6% of the nation’s fish imports and showing a 10.5% growth year-on-year. Grimsby remains central to the UK’s seafood processing industry, with around 70% of the nation’s seafood processed there. The ports’ strategic locations are crucial in meeting the growing demand for efficient seafood trade routes, particularly from Norway, reinforcing the Humber’s role as a global leader in the seafood industry. In 2023, the Humber ports imported over 609,567 tonnes of seafood, playing a key role in the UK’s seafood supply chain.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 22-Aug-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — The Humber ports, encompassing Grimsby, Immingham, and Hull, have reaffirmed their status as the leading gateway for seafood imports in the UK, handling 41.6% of the nation’s fish imports. Recent statistics highlight a notable 10.5% year-on-year growth in fish imports through these ports, emphasizing their critical role in the UK’s seafood industry.

Grimsby, in particular, remains a powerhouse in seafood processing, with approximately 70% of the UK’s seafood being processed there, including half of the fish fingers consumed nationwide. This concentration of processing facilities, along with ABP’s strategic port locations, supports 5,500 jobs and creates an efficient hub for the seafood industry.

Simon Bird, Regional Director of the Humber ports, underscored the importance of these ports, stating that their strategic locations meet the growing demand for short sea European routes, ensuring that high-quality seafood from around the world reaches UK consumers efficiently and sustainably.

Simon Dwyer, a representative of the Seafood Grimsby & Humber Alliance and Grimsby Fish Merchants Association, noted a significant shift in seafood routing, particularly with salmon from Norway, which now arrives at Immingham rather than southern ports like Dover. This change reflects the logical approach to bringing seafood directly to the UK’s leading processing cluster in Grimsby.

In 2023, the Humber ports imported approximately 609,567 tonnes of seafood, including species such as cod, haddock, Alaskan pollock, and salmon, with the latter being the largest volume contributor. The ports continue to play a vital role in supporting the UK’s seafood trade, further cementing their status as a global leader in this sector.

Media Contacts:

Tim Morris
Head of Corporate Communications
tim.morris@abports.co.uk
Mob: +44 (0)7850 501 903

Pressiana Naydenova
Corporate Communications Manager
pressiana.naydenova@abports.co.uk

SOURCE: ABP