The Port of Felixstowe remains the UK's busiest container port, handling more than four million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually and processing nearly half of all containerised trade entering and leaving the country. But the competitive landscape is shifting, and 2025 brought a reminder that Felixstowe's dominance is not something that can be taken for granted.
London Gateway, the DP World-owned port in Essex, surpassed three million TEUs in 2025 for the first time — a milestone that would have seemed improbable a decade ago. The gap between Felixstowe and London Gateway has narrowed significantly, and industry observers are watching closely to see whether the trend continues.
Felixstowe's response has been to double down on its core strengths. The £130 million investment by the Harwich Haven Authority to deepen the harbour approach channel means Felixstowe can accommodate the world's largest container ships — vessels with a capacity of 20,000 TEUs or more that simply cannot berth at rival UK ports. In September 2025, the MSC Siena arrived at Felixstowe with a record-equalling deep draft, a reminder of the port's unique capability.
The port's rail connections are another competitive advantage. On average, 35 trains leave Felixstowe every weekday, connecting the port to distribution centres across the UK. Freeport East and local MPs have been lobbying for investment at the Ely and Haughley Junction rail bottlenecks, which currently limit capacity — an upgrade that could significantly increase the number of trains the port can handle.
For Felixstowe as a town, the port's continued success is fundamental. It employs thousands of people directly and indirectly, generates significant economic activity, and gives the town a global significance that few places of its size can claim. The challenge for the coming years is to ensure that the economic benefits of the port are felt across the whole community — not just in the industrial estates and logistics parks, but in the high street, the schools, and the neighbourhoods where port workers and their families live.
