Brexit Impact on UK Ports Muted Compared to Covid-19 | Financial Times
As reported in today’s Financial Times, traffic through UK ports remains a quarter down on the levels seen pre-Brexit with delays up nearly a fifth. But levels associated with Brexit are muted in comparison to those seen during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
As we approach the first full month since a trade deal was signed between the EU and the UK, transit between the two has stagnated at 75 per cent of average levels seen last year, according to high frequency data from Huq Industries.
At the same time, delays have slightly increased to 16 per cent of the levels seen during the transition period up from 10 per cent at the beginning of the year. The stagnation has remained at the same levels for almost a month, suggesting that some of the so-called teething problems may be here to stay.
The figures continue to reflect anecdotal reports from the hauliers that they are struggling with red tape and Covid testing rules. They also follow reports that up to 20 per cent of small to medium size businesses are delaying exports from the UK because of fears of being held up by new customs rules.
This has a knock on effect to hauliers, who rely on bringing goods too – and from – the UK to make transit economically viable. But if these levels are indicative of the worst of the anticipated disruption, the impact of the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic appears to have been more significant for UK ports.
Related Stories
Freedom in the Air: Park Visits Peak Past Pre-Covid Levels
Visits to England’s parks and gardens have surged past pre-Covid levels in recent weeks as warmer weather coaxes people out for walks.
In-store Grocery Shopping Level at 50pts Amid Online Boom
In-person visits to UK supermarkets during the second national lockdown has been consistently lower than in May with high-frequency data suggesting that the shift towards online grocery shopping is…
City Centre Visits Jump 10% Following 22 Feb Roadmap Announcement
The number of people visiting city centres jumped by 10% following Boris’ roadmap announcements on 22 February, suggesting that light at the end of the tunnel and more confidence in the vaccine…
Visit Duration During Covid-19 Across the Urban Hierarchy and Income Scale
In this analysis we use our mobile geo-location data to explore how dwell time - the duration of visitors to high-streets and town centres - has changed in the past 14 months and contrast those…
European Non-Essential Retail Footfall in Decline as Pandemic Third Wave Looms
Footfall across Europe’s clothing, hospitality and leisure industries has fallen by almost a third so far in February amid a broader consumer sector decline as the continent faces a new wave of the…
European Defence Industry Fighting Back From Pandemic Low
The European defence industry is making a strong recovery from the effects of the pandemic as worker activity reaches its highest level since the outbreak began.
Chesterfield, Derbyshire: The Impact of Covid-19 on Town Catchments
Huq's high-frequency measure of footfall in the urban environment offers a precise, detailed measure of mobility trends within high-streets and urban areas - and can also be used to accurately model…
Freight Transits At UK Ports Recover to Pre-Brexit Levels
Transits through British ports have climbed back to pre-Brexit levels and delays are showing signs of creeping down.
Normal EU In-Store Clothing Retail at UK Pre-Christmas Peak Levels
Footfall across British clothes shops has been lower than the rest of Europe for the entire pandemic as tough lockdown measures push customers to online retailers.
