42 | Sector Focus: Ports & Shipping
SUMMARY
■ Shoreham Port handled over 400,000m3
of timber in 2024
■ One particular growth area was the increase in imported panel products
■Shoreham is the first UK port to operate a Mantsinen 140m Hybrilift crane
■ The Port has recently been recertified as an EcoPort
WITH MARKET REQUIREMENTS
EVOLVING
Shoreham Port is investing to remain responsive to market needs and strengthen environmental performance, commercial and property director Beth Evans-Gay tells TTJ
TTJ: HOW HAS BUSINESS AT SHOREHAM PORT DEVELOPED OVER THE LAST YEAR, IN PARTICULAR YOUR TIMBER AND FOREST PRODUCTS OPERATIONS? Beth Evans-Gay: The Port handles a variety of different cargoes, including grain, recyclables and bulks, however the majority of our tonnage is directly related to the construction industry and thus 2024 proved to be another challenging year as a direct result of the ongoing turbulence across the sector. Despite this, for timber the Port was delighted to finish the year ahead of 2023 handling over 400,000m3
over the quayside
and delivering a large proportion of this in our own haulage fleet across the UK.
Above: Beth Evans-Gay is commercial and property director at Shoreham Port
TTJ: WHAT HAVE BEEN THE KEY DRIVERS FOR THE BUSINESS AND, IN PARTICULAR, DO YOU SEE THE GOVERNMENT’S PLEDGES TO DRIVE CONSTRUCTION IN THE UK AS POTENTIALLY GOOD FOR SHOREHAM? BEG: As a Port reliant on the construction industry, we welcome the government’s pledge to drive the sector. In principle this is very positive news for our main commodities. We would like to see more clarity over the government’s major infrastructure projects across the UK and the funding committed to them, and we hope it can deliver a clear road map to meet house building targets across the UK. For Shoreham a large percentage of the
TTJ | September/October 2025 |
www.ttjonline.com
imported cargo is for the repair, maintenance and improvement market. Instability and high interest rates and concerns over inflation have directly affected this market. A stable growing economy will only help pick up demand. We have always prided ourselves on forming strong relationships with customers, working with them to adapt to fluctuations in demand and the ongoing economic pressures they face. This customer centric approach is key to the success of Shoreham’s timber handling business. We recognise the importance of understanding the entire supply chain and the pivotal part the Port has to play to provide an efficient and agile service to meet customer demands.
Our customers are able to purchase from a range of Swedish, Latvian and Finnish mills due to the regularity of the shipping lines that call at the Port. This model enables a variety of timber specifications and products to be on the quayside at any one time, enabling them to flexibly meet the changing demands in the market.
TTJ: HAVE THERE BEEN ANY DEVELOPMENTS IN TERMS OF THE TIMBER AND WOOD PRODUCTS YOU HANDLE? BEG: Due to the regularity of the shipping lines that call at the Port, our customers are able to stock a wide range of timber products, including carcassing, fencing, panel
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