Port of Tilbury grain terminal marks 50 years

Built at a cost of £53.5M in today’s money, the grain terminal has processed over 35 Mt of product since opening in 1969. It currently handles 2 Mtpa of grain, wheat, barley and beans to help meet the UK’s import and export requirements.

A vital supplier to major global brands, the facility supports the agricultural industry in the southeast of England, along with the flour milling and bakery industries.

With two grain towers on site, the terminal can discharge and load vessels simultaneously. The grain terminal has a five-star food hygiene rating, and is fully automated and linked to two associated flourmills located within the port.

Since Thames Grain was added to the terminal in 1983, it has allowed UK grain to be sampled, tested and tipped prior to export.

Peter Ward, commercial director at the Port of Tilbury, said: “This year marks a special anniversary for Port of Tilbury’s grain terminal, which plays a huge role in supplying businesses from around the world with the grain needed to support their brands.

“Port of Tilbury continues to invest in this vital asset to ensure it continues as the largest terminal for the import and export of grain in the country for the next 50 years.”

The grain terminal has over 200 silo’s ranging in size from 60t to over 2,000t. Its berths have space to accommodate post-Panamax ships, as well as a range of coaster vessels on its inner, outer and coaster berths.

The terminal also operates a monthly coastal shipping service from Tilbury to its sister port in Kirkcaldy, Scotland for Carr’s Milling.

Earlier this year, Port of Tilbury completed a major storage expansion at the grain terminal. The new flat store increases the capacity by an additional 16,000t of both import and export wheat.