# Southampton (GB SOU)

**UN/LOCODE:** GB SOU  
**Country:** United Kingdom  
**Water Body:** English Channel; North Atlantic Ocean  
**Harbor Size:** Large  
**Harbor Type:** River (Basins)  
**GPS:** 50.9000, -1.4000

DP World's container terminal at Southampton topped two million TEU for the first time in 2025, a record that confirms its place as the United Kingdom's second-largest box terminal behind Felixstowe. Yet vehicles and reefer cargo matter just as much: with around 900,000 units handled a year, Southampton is Britain's leading automotive gateway, and more than two-thirds of the country's deep-sea refrigerated imports arrive through Southampton and neighbouring London Gateway. DP World runs the five-berth terminal and is commissioning two new ship-to-shore cranes in 2026. The setting on Southampton Water, with its double high tide, gives large vessels generous berthing windows. Inland, dedicated freight trains serve the Midlands while the M3 and M27 motorways handle road haulage. Associated British Ports owns and operates the estate. As Europe's leading turnaround cruise port, Southampton counted more than three million passengers in 2024 — relevant to forwarders for the traffic peaks around the terminals. For overflow or alternative routings, Felixstowe and London Gateway are the obvious substitutes.

## Transit Times & Routes

- [London → Shanghai](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/london-shanghai)
- [London → Shenzhen](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/london-shenzhen)
- [London → Guangzhou](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/london-guangzhou)
- [London → Hong Kong](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/london-hong-kong)
- [London → Tokyo](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/london-tokyo)
- [London → Busan](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/london-busan)

---

*Freight Academy — Seaport Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/southampton-port-gb-sou](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/southampton-port-gb-sou)*

*Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/seaports/en/southampton-port-gb-sou](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/seaports/en/southampton-port-gb-sou)*

*LLM-Summary (JSON): https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/seaports/southampton-port-gb-sou/llm-summary?lang=en*