Between January and March this year, the number of HGVs travelling to the Continent dropped 19% on the same quarter in 2008, down to 576,000.
In another indication of how the recession is damaging the haulage industry, only 2.64 million HGVs travelled from the UK to mainland Europe during the year to March 2009 - a 9% drop on the previous 12 months.
Despite the year-on-year fall, the Department for Transport (DfT) statistics reveal
that the figure is still 95% higher than it was in 1992.
The statistics are compiled from returns provided by RO-RO ferry operators and Eurotunnel.
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