UK Ports — Customs Clearance & Freight Services
ASA Logistics provides customs clearance, container haulage, and freight forwarding at all major UK sea ports including Felixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway, Liverpool, Tilbury, and more.
7 Major Ports
Coverage across all key UK entry points
FCL & LCL
Full and groupage container services
Fast Clearance
Pre-lodged declarations for quick release
Whether your shipment arrives at Felixstowe on a vessel from Shanghai or at Southampton from North America, ASA Logistics handles customs clearance, port release, and onward UK delivery — keeping your supply chain moving without delays.
Major UK Container & Cargo Ports
We provide customs clearance and freight services at all the UK's primary sea ports.
Port of Felixstowe
The UK’s busiest container port, handling around 40% of the UK’s containerised trade. Felixstowe is the primary entry point for sea freight from China and Asia, with direct services from over 400 destinations worldwide. It is operated by Hutchison Ports and has deep-water berths capable of handling the largest container vessels afloat.
4M+
Annual TEU
4M+
Annual TEU
4M+
Annual TEU
Nearby logistics hubs: London, Birmingham, East Midlands
Port of Southampton
The UK’s second largest container port and the country’s leading vehicle import/export hub. Southampton’s deep-water access makes it ideal for the largest container ships. It is a key entry point for sea freight from North America, Europe, and Asia, and handles a significant share of UK ro-ro (roll-on/roll-off) and automotive cargo.
2M+
Annual TEU
No.1 UK
Vehicle handling
20+
Shipping lines
Nearby logistics hubs: London, Bristol, Reading
London Gateway
One of Europe’s most modern deep-water container ports, opened in 2013 and situated on the Thames Estuary. London Gateway offers unrivalled proximity to London and the South East, making it ideal for businesses needing fast turnaround from ship to inland delivery. It is operated by DP World and includes a major logistics park adjacent to the port.
1M+
Annual TEU
25 miles
Distance to London
2013
Opened
Nearby logistics hubs: London, Stansted, Luton
Port of Liverpool (Seaforth)
Liverpool is the UK’s premier deep-sea container port for the North of England, serving the Midlands, Yorkshire, and the North West. The port handles services from North America, the Caribbean, and Asia. The Liverpool2 terminal (opened 2016) can accommodate the largest container vessels, making it a growing rival to southern ports.
900K+
Annual TEU
2016
Opened Liverpool2
Trans-Atlantic
Key trade lane
Nearby logistics hubs: Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham
Port of Tilbury
A major multi-purpose port on the River Thames, just 25 miles from Central London. Tilbury handles a wide range of cargo including containers, bulk, paper, and forest products. It is a key gateway for imports of timber, grain, and paper, and offers extensive warehousing and distribution facilities serving London and the South East.
5+
Cargo types
25 miles
Distance to London
1M sq ft+
Warehousing
Nearby logistics hubs: London, Gatwick, Stansted
Port of Immingham
The UK’s largest port by total tonnage, Immingham handles a massive volume of bulk cargo including coal, oil, gas, and steel. It is a major gateway for energy imports and industrial goods, serving the manufacturing heartlands of Yorkshire, the East Midlands, and the North East. Operated by Associated British Ports (ABP).
By tonnage
Largest UK port
Primary focus
Bulk cargo
ABP
Operator
Nearby logistics hubs: Sheffield, Leeds, Nottingham
Port of Bristol (Avonmouth)
The Port of Bristol’s main facilities at Avonmouth and Royal Portbury Dock make it the UK’s closest deep-sea port to the major population centres of the South West and Wales. It handles containers, bulk, and automotive cargo and is a key entry point for goods serving the Bristol, Cardiff, and Bath regions.
South West
Closest deep-sea port
Container, bulk, Ro-Ro
Cargo types
Bristol Port Co.
Operator
Nearby logistics hubs: Cardiff, Bath, Swindon
UK Port Freight — Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about importing through UK ports.
Which UK port is best for importing from China?
Felixstowe handles around 40% of all UK container trade and has the most direct shipping services from Chinese ports (Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou). It is usually the fastest and most cost-effective option for China imports. Southampton and London Gateway are also used for Asia-UK services. The best port for you depends on your final delivery destination — we’ll recommend the most cost-effective option.
How long does it take for a container to clear UK customs after arrival?
With a pre-lodged customs declaration, most shipments are released within a few hours of vessel arrival. If customs select the container for examination, this can add 1–3 days. Delays usually stem from incomplete or inaccurate documentation. ASA Logistics pre-checks all paperwork before submission to minimise the risk of holds.
What is the difference between FCL and LCL at a UK port?
FCL (Full Container Load) means the entire container is yours — it is discharged and customs cleared as a single unit. LCL (Less than Container Load) means your cargo shares a container with other importers’ goods; the container is discharged, taken to a Container Freight Station (CFS), stripped, and your cargo is released separately. FCL is faster; LCL adds 2–4 days for CFS handling.
Can you arrange haulage from any UK port to our premises?
Yes. We arrange port haulage from all major UK container ports — Felixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway, Liverpool, Tilbury, Immingham, and Bristol — to anywhere in the UK mainland. We work with a network of specialist port hauliers and can coordinate same-day or next-day delivery after customs clearance.
What is a port examination and why does it happen?
HMRC and Border Force may select a container for a documentary check (reviewing paperwork) or a physical examination (opening and inspecting the cargo). Examinations can be random, risk-based (e.g. first-time importer, unusual commodity), or intelligence-led. Costs are charged to the importer. ASA Logistics handles all communications with the port and HMRC during an examination.
Do I need to be registered for UK VAT to import through a UK port?
No — you do not need to be VAT-registered to import into the UK. However, if you are VAT-registered, you can use Postponed VAT Accounting (PVA) to defer import VAT rather than paying it upfront at the port. This is a significant cash-flow benefit. We advise all VAT-registered importers to use PVA and ensure it is applied correctly on your customs declaration.
Which UK ports handle roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) cargo?
The main UK Ro-Ro ports are Southampton (largest vehicle import/export hub), Dover (short-sea Ro-Ro to Europe), Portsmouth, Immingham, and Hull. Ro-Ro is used for vehicles, trailers, and machinery that can be driven or rolled onto the vessel. We arrange Ro-Ro customs clearance and onward delivery for all UK Ro-Ro ports.
Need customs clearance at a UK port?
Our team handles port clearance, documentation, and UK delivery from every major UK container port.