Value of Liverpool city region’s maritime sector grows from £5.6bn to £9bn in just two years despite the challenging economic environment, new figures show. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool city region’s maritime sector has defied the wider struggling UK economy to rocket in value over just two years.

Data from Liverpool John Moores University’s Global Centre for Maritime Innovation reveals the sector was worth £9bn in aggregate value in 2025, up from £5.6bn in 2023. It directly contributed £1.16bn in gross value added (GVA), 12.6% higher than 2023.

Aggregate output refers to the total value of all goods and services produced in an economy over a set period. GVA is similar but subtracts what is called ‘intermediate consumption to provide a net value.

In terms of direct business turnover, the report shows the sector generated £3.4bn in business turnover in 2025, 25.1% higher than the £2.72bn recorded in 2023.

In terms of employment maritime employment has grown at an average annual rate of 9.1% between 2023 and 2025, against a backdrop of stagnant employment growth across the UK economy.

Maritime businesses directly employed 10,901 people in 2025, 41% (4,472) of which are employed in shipping. Within the wider supply chain, maritime supports 48,000 jobs at its broadest, up from 45,984 in 2023.

Maritime comprises more than 30 sub-sectors ranging from shipping and logistics to engineering and financial services. The LJMU study shows shipping and maritime business services generated 40.3% of maritime GVA in 2025.

Dr Robyn Pyne, principal lecturer at LJMU’s Global Centre for Maritime Innovation, said: “The data from this report very much confirms what many observers have been saying for a while – that the industry is going from strength to strength. That is good news for local prosperity and for local jobs.

“Much is made of Liverpool’s past as a trading port and commercial hub but there is very much a present and future to be built because the opportunities are here and now.”

The report – Economic Impact Assessment of the Liverpool City Region Maritime Sector – was conducted by the Centre for Economic and Business Research and trailed at London Shipping Week. The report also found:

The Port of Liverpool facilitated goods exports of £11.5bn in 2024, up from £10.9bn in 2023. This represents strong annual growth of 6.2%, particularly in context of UK-wide goods exports declining 5.1%.

The Port of Liverpool processed £16.9bn in goods imports in 2024, growing 11.3% from £15.2bn processed in 2023.

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Ruth Wood, chief of industry cluster organisation Mersey Maritime, added: “This new report highlights the vital role maritime plays in Liverpool city region, across the wider North West and nationally.

“These figures represent thriving maritime businesses, skilled careers and bold innovation. We’re proud to champion the LCR maritime industry and excited for what the future holds.”