U.K. port volumes slide 3% in 2016

Major seaports in the United Kingdom handled 117.2 million metric tons of freight in the fourth quarter of 2016 and 473.5 million metric tons for the full year, according to preliminary figures released by the U.K. Department for Transport.    Major seaports in the United Kingdom saw full-year 2016 cargo volumes slip 3 percent to 473.5 million metric tons compared with the previous year, according to recent preliminary figures released by the U.K. Department for Transport.
   U.K. ports handled 117.2 million metric tons of freight in the fourth quarter of 2016, a 4 percent year-over-year decline.
   Import volumes fell 2 percent to 73.3 million metric tons in the fourth quarter, while export tonnage dropped 7 percent to 43.9 million metric tons compared with the same 2016 period.