Heathrow annually handles £200bn in trade making it UK’s largest port by value

Latest data from Heathrow Airport shows it handles more than £200bn of UK trade each year, making it, claims the airport, the country’s largest port by value.

image: Heathrow Airport

The west London hub plays a central role in transporting high-value and time-sensitive goods, including pharmaceuticals, electronics, and luxury products, despite being primarily known as a passenger airport.

Heathrow moved more than 1.5m tonnes of cargo in 2025. By comparison, East Midlands Airport, which is widely regarded as the UK’s dedicated freight hub, moved larger volumes in terms of weight (with a focus on parcels, e-commerce shipments, and logistics) but handled less trade by value than Heathrow.

Heathrow claims the value of its trade also exceeds that of the major maritime ports. UK seaports such as Felixstowe, Southampton, and London Gateway move far larger quantities of cargo by weight, including bulk goods and containerised freight. By value, however, Heathrow surpasses these ports because it carries higher-priced goods that are particularly time-sensitive.

Heathrow’s trade figures come amid ongoing discussions over airport capacity. Operating close to maximum throughput, the airport and business groups have argued that additional runway capacity could further increase trade flows, enhancing the UK’s ability to move high-value goods efficiently.