Ipswich has kept the crown as the UK's top port for agricultural exports.

Port of Ipswich owner ABP expressed delight after the port - in the heart of the UK's breadbasket - beat London, Bristol and Belfast to take the title. It has retained top spot for 17 years in a row.

The Department for Transport’s UK port freight statistics show that in 2021 the Port of Ipswich shipped 409,000 tonnes of agricultural products. It exported a remarkable 22% of UK major ports’ outwards agricultural products tonnage last year, the figures confirm.

ABP said its key location at the heart of the agricultural community of Suffolk and north Essex - and East Anglia's role as the nation's breadbasket - played a role.

As well as retaining the accolade of biggest exporter of agricultural products, the port is also the seventh busiest port in the UK overall for both imports and exports of agricultural products.

It plays an important role in supporting supply chains in the region - including aggregates and cement for the UK construction industry, said ABP.

ABP divisional port manager Paul Ager said: “It is fantastic that we have seen continuously high agricultural export volumes, which have helped our port retain its top position as the UK’s number one export port for agricultural products.

"Our business plays an important role in supporting supply chains in East Anglia and we are grateful to all our customers for continuing to choose ABP’s Port of Ipswich to handle their imports and exports."

ABP’s East Anglian ports - King’s Lynn, Lowestoft and Ipswich - combined contribute £360m to the UK economy every year, according to ABP, and support3,700 jobs in the region and 5,300 jobs nationally.

Together, the three ports handle more than 3m tonnes of cargo every year, 2m tonnes of Agribulks and 170,000 tonnes of timber.