Dublin Port Company has released the trade figures for Dublin Port in 2007. The figures reveal record trade volumes. For the first time in the history of Dublin Port, trade levels at the port exceeded 30 million tonnes in a year.
2007 Highlights:
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Trade throughput representing imports and exports amounted to 30.9 million tonnes in 2007, which is a 5.7% increase on 2006. At 10.9 million tonnes, exports showed a significant increase in the year, up 8% on 2006. The growth in imports was also strong up 4.5% to 19.9 million tonnes.
In line with trends in previous years the trade sectors experiencing the highest level of growth are the RoRo (Roll On-Roll Off) sector and the unitised Lo-Lo (Load On-Load Off) sector. Ro-Ro freight handled 733,141 units in 2007 representing an increase of 5.8% on 2006. Lo-Lo twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) rose to 743,937 units an increase of 9.3%. This growth in not surprising given the increased demand for consumer goods which account for the vast majority of Lo-Lo and Ro-Ro trade. This includes the food, clothes and white goods that the growing Irish population consume on a daily basis. Given that there are plans to develop 4m sq. ft. of additional retail space within the M50 corridor this trend looks set to continue.
To further accommodate future growth in this sector, Dublin Port Company is completing extensive works at Alexandra Quay and also at the terminal operated by Dublin Ferry Port Terminals at Dublin Port to increase LoLo capacity in these areas.
Commenting on the record trade figures to pass through Dublin Port, Mr. Enda Connellan, CEO, Dublin Port Company, said, “Dublin Port remains the port of choice for importers and exporters to access Ireland’s largest market as it is the most efficient way of getting consumer goods to Dublin retailers. Almost 50% of all goods flowing through the port have their origin or destination within the M50 corridor. The main driver of growth at the port is demand for consumer goods and with 4m sq. ft. of retail space planned for the capital in the medium term we expect continued demand for capacity at Dublin Port”.
Figures released by Dublin Port Company reported a significant surge in the number of ferry passengers to travel through Dublin Port in 2007. Ferry passenger numbers in 2007 exceeded 1.3 million, an increase of 11.5% from 1.1 million in 2006. The upsurge in ferry passenger numbers is a positive trend for a sector, which had experienced a number of years of decline. In line with this growth, the number of tourist cars passing through Dublin Port in 2007 amounted to 271,320, an increase of 6% on 2006.
Date Published: Monday 25. of February 2008