Dublin Port Company published trade statistics for 2014 which show a record year for trade at Dublin Port, with growth year-on-year of 7%.
Total throughput for 2014 was 31 million gross tonnes with 7,108 ship arrivals in the year, bringing the port’s activity back to the record levels of 2007.
Imports in 2014 were over 18 million gross tonnes, while exports exceeded 12 million gross tonnes, representing increases of 6.3% and 8% respectively on 2013 trade levels.
The recovery in the Port’s trade has been export-led with volumes of exports 1.6 million gross tonnes greater than in 2007. On the import side there has been continuing recent growth (driven by improving domestic consumption) and this has pushed Dublin Port’s overall volumes ahead to equal previous record levels of 31 million gross tonnes.
On the tourism side, 1.7 million ferry passengers travelled through the port in 2014, representing a 6.4% increase on last year. In addition, 2014 was a strong year for the port’s cruise business with 140,000 visitors on 86 cruise ships.
Eamonn O’Reilly, Chief Executive, Dublin Port Company, said: ”Having completed major investments during 2014 including the new EUR 3.4 million (USD 4m) trade car terminal and with the development of the Alexandra Quay Container Terminal nearing completion, we are looking forward during 2015 to commencing the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment Project which the EU is already supporting under its TEN-T infrastructure investment programme.”