Road goods vehicles travelling to mainland Europe - Q1 and Q2 2008

The figures presented here for foreign-registered vehicles (and hence total powered vehicles and the overall number of vehicles) are seasonally adjusted to help identify underlying trends, especially changes between successive quarters.  All other figures are presented on an unadjusted basis, as they show no evidence of seasonality.

Second Quarter 2008

• 759 thousand goods vehicles travelled from GB to mainland Europe, a four per cent increase on the same quarter in 2007.
• This figure was made up of 539 thousand powered vehicles, up one per cent from the second quarter 2007, and 220 thousand unaccompanied trailers, up 12 per cent from the second quarter 2007.
• In the second quarter of 2008, 20 per cent of powered goods vehicles (105 thousand) were UK-registered.

Notes

1. These statistics are compiled from returns provided by roll-on/roll-off ferry operators and by Eurotunnel on the total number of vehicles travelling from GB to mainland Europe.

2. Powered vehicles comprise rigid vehicles, lorries with semi-trailers (articulated units) and lorries with drawbar trailers (some vehicles under 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight are also included).  Unaccompanied trailers comprise trailers and semi-trailers not accompanied on the ferry by a powered unit. Unaccompanied trailers are not carried by the Eurotunnel freight service.

3. Following the suspension and review of this series revised estimates for 2004 to 2007 were published in May 2008. The revised estimates are considered to be more robust than the previous ones since they are based on more complete information, comparison with other sources, and further discussion with operators. This new methodology has resulted in a break in the series between 2003 and 2004 and comparisons by country of registration should therefore be treated with caution.

4. If improved data becomes available in-year for previously published quarters the figures for these quarters will be revised.  However any revisions to previous years will only be published in the Quarter 4 bulletin.

Publication details

Published on 28 August 2008 by Transport Statistics.

Email maritime.stats@dft.gsi.gov.uk for queries concerning this bulletin.

The next quarterly bulletin will be published on 27 November 2008.  This will include Quarter 3 2008.  The Quarter 4 bulletin (containing figures for 2009 and a full commentary) will be published when full calendar year results are available, in March 2009.

For information about release of this product see National Statistics Online.