Southampton: ABP to invest £50m to support UK vehicle manufacturing

ABP is today announcing a major investment to support the continued growth of UK exports through Southampton.

Britain’s leading ports company plans a phased £50 million investment in vehicle handling facilities at the Port of Southampton.

Already the UK’s leading export port, with £40 billion of British manufactured goods passing through each year, Southampton is the country’s number one for vehicle handling, with more than 900,000 vehicles passing through in 2015, including around 520,000 for export. Uniquely, nearly a third of these arrive for export on up to five daily trains.

Southampton is also the UK’s number one for exports to non-EU countries, handling £36b-worth of goods destined for customers outside the continental bloc.

The first £25m tranche of the investment will deliver two new vehicle handling facilities, together capable of storing 7,600 vehicles on route from UK factories to global markets.

The facilities will support a range of UK vehicle manufacturers, including Jaguar Land Rover.

The second phase of investment will see a further two facilities built. Ultimately, the investment will add a further 15,000 spaces to the port’s capacity and take the total number of vehicle handling facilities in Southampton to nine, capable of carrying 55,000 vehicles.

ABP chief executive James Cooper said: “Southampton is the UK’s number one port for exports, handling exports worth some £40b, and it is the UK’s number one for vehicle exports.

“The port is a critical part of the supply chain for the British automotive industry, providing essential access to global markets.

“Our investment will build on this critical role and support our customers’ drive to continue to grow their exports well into the future.”

ABP director, Southampton, Alastair Welch added: “ABP has already invested more than £32m over the past five years to support the growth in vehicle exports.

“We continue to work closely with our customers to ensure that this growth can be sustained.

"The investment is testimony to the performance of the Port of Southampton and will help increase the port’s vital contribution to the regional and national economy.”

International trade secretary Liam Fox said: “This investment is positive news, not just for Southampton but also for our world-class automotive industry as a whole. Southampton is a key route for British brands to access international markets and this investment will allow exporters to take advantage of the global demand for British-made vehicles.

“Last week, ONS statistics revealed UK car exports reached a record high in July and investments like this will help to strengthen exports in the sector and will be a further boost for confidence and optimism.”