London Gateway has established itself as one of the fastest-growing container ports in the UK, handling over 3 million TEU in 2025. This is an impressive 52% increase from last year's 1.9 million TEU. This growth marks a significant milestone for DP World's operations in the UK, which now manage more than five million TEU each year across both the London Gateway and Southampton terminals.
The increase in activity at London Gateway is largely due to the opening of its fourth berth and the addition of vessel calls from Gemini Cooperation linking Asia and Europe. Additionally, DP World's Southampton terminal has surpassed the 2-million-TEU mark, strengthening the company’s dominant role in a UK container market that totals just over nine million TEU.
Stephen Whittingham, Executive Vice President for North Europe at DP World, stated, “Every container that moves through our terminals at London Gateway and Southampton is critical for British businesses and everyday life, from food in stores to the products that keep manufacturers and high streets functioning. Our UK infrastructure is essential for ensuring that these supply chains operate quickly and efficiently, especially during peak times of the year.”
The growth trend shows no signs of stopping. Work is already in progress on two more all-electric berths at London Gateway as part of a £1 billion investment. This will increase the total number of berths to six, all able to accommodate the largest containers in the world. Furthermore, the port opened a second rail terminal in 2025 and plans to implement a BOXBAY container handling system with a £170 million investment over the next two years.
Meanwhile, Southampton is also undergoing modernization, set to receive new quay cranes later this year, which will create Europe's tallest fleet of quay cranes. This £60 million investment aims to enhance operations at the Solent facility.
Whittingham pointed out that reaching the 5-million-TEU milestone “shows how our investments in capacity, technology, and resilience allow DP World to move goods more reliably, sustainably, and efficiently from ship to shop, continuously raising the standard for end-to-end logistics.”
DP World, based in Dubai, operates in over 75 countries and facilitates more than 9% of global containerized trade. With London Gateway on its way to becoming Britain’s key container port, the company’s investments in the UK reflect confidence in the country’s trading infrastructure amid changing global supply chain dynamics.