HomeLondon Gateway Breaks 3m TEU and UK Box Volume Gravity Tilts Toward the Thames

London Gateway Breaks 3m TEU and UK Box Volume Gravity Tilts Toward the Thames

January 22, 2026

London Gateway handled more than 3 million TEU in 2025, up from about 1.9 million TEU in 2024, according to DP World reporting. DP World also said its combined UK throughput across London Gateway and Southampton was above 5 million TEU in 2025, against a UK market described as more than 9 million TEU. The step-up is being linked to added berth capacity at London Gateway and additional mainline service calls, with the immediate question for 2026 being how consistently that higher volume level holds across peak weeks and call bunching.

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London Gateway in one read

DP World says London Gateway handled more than 3 million TEU in 2025, up more than 52% from 1.9 million TEU in 2024. It also reports Southampton exceeded 2 million TEU, taking DP World’s UK total above 5 million TEU in a UK market above 9 million TEU.

  • Capacity and calls behind the jump
    DP World attributes the 2025 record to the newly operational fourth berth and additional vessel calls, including Gemini Cooperation Asia to Europe route calls.
  • More capacity is still being added
    DP World states construction is underway on two further all-electric berths that will take London Gateway to six berths, and that a second rail terminal began operations in 2025. It also states a BOXBAY system is planned.
  • The shift appears in government freight statistics
    UK statistics report container tonnage up 43% in Q3 2025 year on year, with London showing the largest rise among major UK ports at +3.0m tonnes (+88%) to 6.5m tonnes, following the fourth berth launch timing.
Bottom Line Impact
If the higher London Gateway base volume holds, call patterns and inland flows can keep rebalancing toward the Thames corridor. The practical 2026 test is whether landside velocity stays smooth through peak weeks as berth and rail capacity expands.
London Gateway update: throughput surge and UK share shift
Signal Fresh update Operational shift Commercial read-through
3m TEU threshold is now crossed London Gateway reports more than 3 million TEU in 2025, up from about 1.9 million TEU in 2024, following added berth capacity and new service calls. More berth and crane hours available for ultra large calls changes the terminal's ability to absorb bunching, recovery windows, and late-arrival peaks. Carriers can plan larger call packages with fewer “split call” compromises, especially when network reliability is under pressure.
UK share re-weights toward DP World terminals DP World states London Gateway plus Southampton exceeded 5 million TEU in 2025 in a UK market totalling more than 9 million TEU. Higher combined volume increases the need for coordinated landside planning across the two terminals, especially around equipment positioning and inland capacity. For customers, this reads as a stronger probability that UK routings will concentrate on fewer hubs, with second-order effects for feeder legs and inland routing choices.
Service strings are starting to “choose sides” Reporting links the volume lift to additional Asia to Europe calls and alliance network choices that increasingly include London Gateway in rotation planning. When a hub is selected consistently, the operating playbook shifts from opportunistic calls to repeatable berth windows, labor cadence, and yard planning. Feeder operators and depots track this because hub preference alters transshipment logic and shortsea lift demand across the UK and near-continent.
Landside becomes the binding constraint Government freight statistics show London saw the largest quarterly rise in container tonnage among major UK ports in Q3 2025, coinciding with London Gateway's fourth berth commissioning. Gate peaks, rail slot availability, and drayage cycle time start to matter as much as berth productivity when volumes jump at this speed. For shippers and forwarders, the risk shifts from “can the ship berth” to “can the box exit,” which affects buffer inventory decisions and cut-off behavior.
Competitive response pressure increases Industry coverage suggests London Gateway is narrowing the gap to the historical UK leader, with expansion capacity continuing to build. Competitive terminals may respond via pricing, berth window offers, or rail and depot partnerships, which can change the economics of UK port choice. UK importers and BCOs may see more leverage in contract discussions, but only if inland capacity keeps up with the new volume pattern.
Two practical watch items for 2026 2026 performance will be shaped by how reliably the terminal holds schedule through call bunching, and whether inland flows can be smoothed as volumes rise. Look for recurring queue patterns, gate appointment pressure, and rail reliability as the early indicators of whether throughput gains are sustainable. If reliability holds, the share shift can become self-reinforcing as networks and customer routings standardize around the new default hub.
UK containers London Gateway share shift landside focus

London Gateway volume jump: the numbers are now large enough to move patterns

This update is about scale and repeatability. A 3m TEU year at London Gateway, paired with Southampton growth and new capacity projects, raises the stakes for berth windows, inland planning, and hub selection across the UK container system.

3.0m+

London Gateway TEU in 2025 (reported)

1.9m

London Gateway TEU in 2024 (reported)

2.0m+

Southampton TEU in 2025 (reported)

5.0m+

DP World UK total TEU in 2025 (reported)

Network rotation pressure point

Additional mainline calls have been cited as a driver of 2025 gains, including Gemini Cooperation Asia to Europe route calls. When a terminal moves from opportunistic calls to repeatable volume, berth window discipline becomes a core operating variable.

Practical takeaway
The key carrier question is whether the higher base volume holds through peak weeks and call bunching, not only in quiet weeks.

Capacity additions that matter for 2026

DP World has described two additional all-electric berths under construction that would take London Gateway to six berths capable of handling the world’s largest container ships. It also states a second rail terminal started operations in 2025 and BOXBAY is planned as a yard handling system.

Practical takeaway
For planners, the operational question becomes the handoff between quay capacity and inland capacity, especially during compressed discharge windows.

Government stats: London container tonnage jump shows up in the data

UK port freight statistics report a 43% year on year jump in UK container tonnage in Q3 2025, with London recording a 3.0m tonnes increase (an 88% rise) to 6.5m tonnes, and linking the surge to the fourth berth launch timing.

Practical takeaway
Tonnage metrics are not TEU, but they capture the same signal: London’s container flow has moved into a higher operating gear.

Landside becomes the binding constraint

When berth and crane capability steps up quickly, inland legs typically become the next pressure point: gate peaks, dray cycle times, depot rhythms, and rail slot availability decide whether the benefit shows up as real velocity.

Practical takeaway
Expect 2026 attention to focus on gate and rail reliability, plus how well equipment positioning follows the new call pattern.
Key figures you can reuse in internal notes
Metric Latest stated figure Context What it affects
London Gateway 2025 throughput Above 3m TEU DP World cites fourth berth plus additional vessel calls as drivers Call packages, berth windows, yard density planning
London Gateway 2024 throughput About 1.9m TEU Baseline for the reported 2025 jump YoY growth framing and capacity math
Southampton 2025 throughput Above 2m TEU DP World cites growth at the Solent terminal UK hub balance and inland allocation choices
DP World UK total 2025 Above 5m TEU DP World total for London Gateway plus Southampton National market share framing and negotiating leverage
UK market size (stated) Above 9m TEU DP World cited national market figure Share math and hub concentration discussion
London container tonnage Q3 2025 6.5m tonnes (London) Gov stats: +3.0m tonnes, +88% year on year; UK container tonnage +43% to 19.5m tonnes Independent confirmation of higher flow through London region
UK Share and Call-Intensity Tool (quick scenario)
Adjust inputs and click Run scenario.
Note: This is a simple math tool for share and indicative call intensity. It does not model cargo mix, peak season, blank sailings, or alliance rotation design.
Bottom Line Impact
If London Gateway sustains a 3m TEU base while new berth and rail capacity comes online, the UK container map becomes more concentrated around a Thames plus Solent axis. The operational test for 2026 is whether berth gains translate into consistent landside velocity through peak weeks and call bunching.
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