Shipping

As Britain is an island nation, shipping and the maritime sectors are among the most important industries to the UK economy. 

They may not know it, but very single person in this country, every single day, will touch, use and eat goods that have been brought to the UK by ship. That is because 95% of all imports and exports are moved by sea. 

Manufacturers rely on shipping to import their raw materials, and to export their finished goods. Energy companies rely on shipping for their oil and gas. Supermarkets rely on it to stock their shelves. Hospitals rely on it to ensure they have the medicine and equipment they need. And 65 million passengers rely on shipping for access to public services, employment, business and holiday travel every year. 

Shipping is an overwhelming success story for the UK and is renowned for its leadership across the world. The country relies on the £10bn the shipping industry contributes in GDP. It supports 240,000 jobs, and everyone relies on it for the £2.5bn it pays in tax to the UK Exchequer.