Dublin Port volumes rise 4.3% in 2017

The Irish seaport saw growth in most sectors in 2017, with imports reaching 21.5 million gross metric tons and exports totaling 14.9 million gross metric tons, up 3.9 percent and 4.9 percent year-over-year, respectively.    Dublin Port’s cargo volumes grew 4.3 percent year-over-year in 2017 to reach a new record level of 36.4 million gross metric tons, the third consecutive year of growth and the largest overall growth in five years since economic recovery began in 2013, the port announced.
   Containers and freight trailers accounted for 83 percent of all cargo in 2017. Imports grew by 3.9 percent year-over-year to 21.5 million gross metric tons, while exports grew 4.9 percent year-over-year to 14.9 million gross metric tons.
   Roll-on/roll-off volumes totaled 992,000 units in 2017, while lift-on/lift-off volumes stood at 698,000 units, up 5 percent and 5.2 percent year-over-year, respectively.
   However, imports of new trade vehicles slipped 4.6 percent year-over-year in 2017, “reflecting the large increase in used cars being brought into Ireland from the U.K.,” the port said.
   The number of imported trade vehicles fell from 104,185 in 2016 to 99,383 in 2017, the port said.
   Bulk liquid volumes, comprising mostly petroleum products, grew by 6.6 percent year-over-year in 2017 to 4.3 million gross metric tons, fueled by increasing road transport, while bulk solid commodities, such as animal feeds and grain, declined slightly by 1 percent.
   “Growth of 4.3 percent in 2017 confirms that the longstanding trend of compounding annual growth in Dublin Port is back,” said Dublin Port’s Chief Executive, Eamonn O’Reilly. “Every year from 1993 to 2007 was a record year in Dublin Port. In the past three years, we have seen this pattern re-emerge, with 2017 the third year in a row for record growth. We are projecting another record year in 2018 with growth of about 5 percent. Dublin Port’s growth is driven by domestic demand, and both population growth and a stronger economy will continue to drive volumes up for the foreseeable future.”
   Dublin Port continues to invest in new infrastructure based on its masterplan to 2040, with 75 million euros (U.S. $91.6 million) in port infrastructure invested in 2017. The port plans to invest a further 132 million euros in 2018.
   “While Brexit brings uncertainties and challenges to our business, the combination of investments by our customers and by Dublin Port is underpinned by a shared confidence in the future. Over the next two months, we will finalize our plans for the required re-introduction of border controls on trade with Britain and I am confident that the controls required will not significantly hinder the movement of goods or people through Dublin Port,” concluded O’Reilly.