A new study puts the Port of Liverpool at the top of the UK league table for port-centric logistics. Tony McDonough reports

A new study from property consultancy Knight Frank ranks the Port of Liverpool as the UK’s number one port for port-centric logistics.

Knight Frank analysed and ranked 41 UK ports based on 13 criteria. It assessed their potential for future logistics investment and development, in its latest Future Gazing report.

Liverpool topped the table after the port ranked first for forecast export growth. And it was placed in the top 10% for access to consumer markets, skilled labour, availability of land, port capacity, import growth potential and size of the existing logistics market.

In the last few weeks the Government has given the green light to the new Liverpool City Region Freeport. As the UK’s main westward-facing port, the Port of Liverpool, owned by Peel Ports, will play a leading role in the project.

Peel Ports Group commercial director, Stephen Carr ,said: “We’ve long argued that the Port of Liverpool is one of the UK’s best-located ports. We have built on that with significant investment to create jobs and enable more efficient supply chains.

READ MORE: Revenues rise but profits fall at Peel Ports

“These benefits have been greatly enhanced recently by confirmation from the Government that Liverpool city region has gained final Freeport status approval, meaning the benefits for supply chains locating to the region are even greater than ever.”

Knight Frank researched each port’s potential role in shortening supply chains and mitigating supply disruption.

Its report looked into 13 different categories including a port’s capacity, connectivity, as well as the overall investment at the site and import and export growth potential. The Port of Liverpool received the highest overall score in its rankings.

Peel Ports has made significant investment at the port in recent years, building on the completion of Liverpool2 – a £400m deep-water container terminal.

The report also recognised the importance of the port’s grain terminal to the UK’s agri bulk industry.