DP World reported a 52 per cent rise in container handling at its London Gateway port last year, surpassing three million TEU in the first full year of operations at its all-electric berth four, reported the UK's Seatrade Maritime News.

The increase was supported by new Asia-Europe route calls from the Gemini Cooperation, the alliance between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd. DP World said its Southampton terminal handled more than two million TEU in 2025, bringing the combined total at its UK ports to over five million TEU.

UK Government figures show national container throughput at 9.62 million TEU in 2024, with Felixstowe the largest contributor at 3.6 million TEU. DP World has stated its ambition to overtake Felixstowe as the UK's top container port within five years.

Felixstowe's future is uncertain amid the delayed sale of Hutchison Ports' assets to Blackrock and MSC's Terminal Investment Limited. Meanwhile, DP World has begun construction of two more all-electric berths at London Gateway under a GBP1 billion (US$1.3 billion) investment, with completion scheduled in four years.

A second rail terminal opened at London Gateway in 2025, and a Boxbay container handling system is planned. DP World is also investing GBP60 million in Southampton, with delivery of the first new quay crane this year to build Europe's tallest crane fleet.

Stephen Whittingham, executive vice president for North Europe at DP World, said surpassing five million TEU at UK terminals showed how investment in capacity, technology and resilience was enabling the company to move goods more reliably and sustainably.