News
30/11/23
The Port of Dover and Cefetra have welcomed a triumphant year for grain exports via the cargo terminal, seeing a doubling of volumes between 2021 and 2023 due to a combination of higher grain production in the southeast of the UK, tighter supply of grain in Europe due to the Ukraine war and the continued ability and success of both businesses in managing the highly volatile and fast-moving industries that they both work in.
Cefetra, a major trader of grains and animal feed raw materials in the UK and Ireland, is responsible for 40% of the total grain yield within the South East and exported 81,500 tonnes via the Port of Dover last harvest season (August 22-July 23), bound for customers in the food and drink sector.
The Port of Dover Cargo has played a pivotal role in facilitating Cefetra’s delivery of record volumes of wheat to Europe and the domestic market, with destinations including Spain, Portugal, Holland, and various locations within the UK, such as Scotland and Northern Ireland. Offering a flexible and reliable export service, the Port’s cargo terminal has allowed Cefetra to deliver record volumes of milling wheat, malt and barley to their customers.
Commenting on the successful year, Tim Porter, Grain Trader at Cefetra, said:
“The previous harvest year has been a hugely successful year for Cefetra, due to the quality of the grains harvest and also our reactions to changing market conditions, which have given us some opportunities to open some new markets for southeast grain. We are grateful to the Port of Dover for their incredible support, flexible service, and their customer-focused approach has been key in enabling us to deliver these volumes to our customers.
“We are proud of the recent launch of our new sustainability programme – Cefetra Ecosystem Services – which rewards sustainable growers, enabling farmers to see a financial return for their eco-friendly practices to produce low-carbon grain. We are therefore pleased to be working with the Port of Dover, who are in alignment with our own environmental objectives.”
The Port of Dover is also a leader in sustainability, set for carbon net zero in its direct emissions by 2025 and net zero in indirect emissions by 2030, having already directly reduced carbon emissions by 97% since 2007.
Decarbonisation at the cargo terminal has been supported by a switch from diesel to HVO in port machinery and vehicles and green technology, such as the terminal’s solar roof tiles that support the building’s energy needs. The strategic location of the Port and flexible service also reduces the length of journeys, considerably reducing CO2 emissions compared to other routes.
Alison Hall, Head of Business Development at Port of Dover, said:
“Port of Dover Cargo has been delighted to support Cefetra with their grain exports throughout one of their busiest seasons ever. 80% of Kent’s grain exports leave via the Port of Dover and we are thrilled to be able to play a part in ensuring the road miles of these products remain minimal and ensure our service meets the standard of the notoriously high-quality grain harvested in the Southeast.
Exchanging ideas and stimulating innovation is at the heart of how we operate at the Port, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Cefetra in the coming years – and helping to close the gap between UK businesses and the rest of the world.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Images are available for download here until 7 December 2023.
For further press information and images
Port of Dover
T: +44 (0) 1304 240 400 Ext. 4410
M: +44 (0)7741 164 971
E: communications@portofdover.com
About Port of Dover
The Port of Dover is the busiest international ferry port in the UK, with two million cars and 11 million passengers passing through the Port every year. Dover also processes 2.4 million trucks per year, more than all other UK ports. In total, the Port of Dover deals with £144bn of trade in goods each year, and 33% of the UK’s trade with the EU, supporting businesses across the nation.
With a cargo business handling fresh produce, containers, project cargo, general cargo, grain and Ro-Ro traffic operating from a state-of-the-art terminal next to the world’s busiest shipping lane and on the quickest sea route to Europe, Dover is building for the future.
In addition, Dover is the UK’s second busiest cruise port, welcoming more than 25 cruise lines and 200,000 guests each year. The Port also has a marina and property business primed to benefit from a new waterfront. The Port of Dover holds ambitious net zero targets, placing it at the vanguard of decarbonisation within the UK ports industry. More information on the targets can be found here. The Port’s focus on sustainability is driving it forward, enabling the team to keep the Port of Dover at the heart of international trade and tourism, and contributing value as a key gateway, employer, business and community partner.
