The UK transportation sector comprises companies offering services to move cargo and the supporting infrastructure. One of the most essential facets of British industrial logistics is powder tank transportation. Collectively, with other industrial logistics, it contributes to about 9% of the Gross Value Added (GVA) and employs about 7% of the population.
Powder tank transportation is among the crucial enablers of most of the UK industries’ successes, from food and pharmaceuticals to construction materials and chemical distribution. But what happens behind the scenes to make this complex process possible? Discover how powder tank transport keeps industries moving forward.
The Contribution of Powder Tank Transportation to Different UK Industries
The UK would have made such great strides in industrial advancements with a reliable logistical infrastructure in place. Today, the powder tanker is one of the most essential means of moving raw materials in the industry. Here are some of the crucial sectors that rely on powder tankers for transportation.
Chemical Industry
The chemical industry added £75.2 billion to the British economy in 2021. This sector heavily relies on powder tank transportation to move solvents and reagents. Unlike traditional tankers, the industry uses specialised tankers equipped with features for handling hazardous substances.
Alpek Polyester is one of the major players in the chemical industry that relies on powder tankers. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), one of its raw materials, is an essential component in the FMCG for manufacturing food containers and beverage bottles. Powder tankers are vital in transporting PET granules or resin pellets, which are melted and shaped into different products.
Construction Industry
The construction industry is also one of the biggest dependents on powder tankers for transporting cement. Every year, the UK transports millions of tonnes of cement, with the consumption recording an increase between 2014 and 2021. According to Statista, the UK’s cement consumption in 2021 was 15.6 million tonnes. This increment from 12.4 million in 2014 is attributed to several factors, including advancements in transportation.
Food Industry
A bulk of food-grade raw materials in the UK are transported in powdered form, from sugar, dry milk whey, and flour to spices, salt, and malt. Food processing companies and bakeries transport these critical raw materials through powder tankers. These ingredients comprise the backbone of numerous food products millions consume, highlighting the crucial role of powder tankers.
Besides transporting food substances, the tankers facilitate hygienic transportation from suppliers to processing plants. British salt is one of the biggest names for bulk tankers transporting bulk powdered raw materials. The company, a sister company to Tata Chemicals Europe, supplies more than half of the UK’s supply of pure salt.
Pharmaceuticals
The pharmaceutical industry contributes a significant percentage of the British economy, averaging more than £57 billion in 2021. Pharmaceutical companies rely on powder tankers to transport ingredients such as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) before processing them into capsules and tablets. Other ingredients include fillers and binders like starch, lactose, and microcrystalline cellulose.
The sector, which employs more than 482,000 people, relies on an efficient powder tank transportation system for its operations. GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca are leading drug manufacturers that have heavily invested in a robust logistic system. Through powder tankers, these manufacturers safely transport sterile materials while maintaining integrity.
Agricultural Sector
Although the agricultural sector lies under the chemical sector regarding fertilisers, it’s worth mentioning it here. The UK government reported that the agricultural sector contributed £30 billion to the economy in 2021 while consuming an average of £18.9 billion worth of goods and services. This achievement was attributed to several key support functions, including efficient availability and supply of raw materials like fertilisers.
This fact alone is sufficient evidence of a robust fertiliser manufacturing industry that relies on powder tank transport for its logistics. While it’s easy to overlook the indirect contribution of this means of transport, most sectors would struggle without it.
Final thoughts
From chemical, food processing, and construction to pharmaceuticals and agriculture, these sectors rely on an efficient mode of transporting raw materials. By measuring the successes of these industries in the UK, we can deduce the contribution of this mode of industrial material transportation.
Therefore, there’s no denying that almost every industrial sector of the UK’s economy relies on powder tank transportation. To ensure your industrial business experiences seamless growth, establish an efficient supply chain with sturdy logistical infrastructure supported by powder tankers.
