Strongest Q1 for Dublin Port in Last Decade

Dublin Port Company’s figures for the first quarter of 2015 show continued growth in import and export trade at Ireland’s largest port with cargo volumes up 5.3% on the same period last year.

This is the strongest first quarter Dublin Port has had in a decade and surpasses the previous record year of 2007 by 3%, the company said.

Total throughput for Q1 2015 was 7.8 million gross tonnes, an increase of 5.3% on the 7.4 mill tonnes handled in the first quarter last year.

There were 1,642 ship arrivals in the first three months. Imports were particularly strong in Q1 at 4.7 million gross tonnes, while exports reached 3.1 million gross tonnes, up 6.9% and 3% respectively on Q1 2014 trade levels.

Dublin Port Company attributed the overall strong growth to a combination of increased movements of unitised goods (containers and trailers) and imports of petroleum products (8.5% increase).

“Our volume grew by 5.3% in the first quarter of 2015. This follows growth of 7.0% in 2014 and 3.0% in 2013, putting Dublin Port back on our Masterplan’s growth trajectory which will see volumes double over the period from 2010 to 204,” says Eamonn O’Reilly, Chief Executive, Dublin Port Company.

Imports of new cars and commercial vehicles continued to grow with almost 33,000 new vehicles imported through Dublin Port in the quarter, up 38.8% from last year.

Dublin Port attracted 277,269 ferry passengers in the first three months of the year, a 5% increase on the first quarter in 2014.

The port expects continued growth following Stena Line’s recent consolidation of its ferry services into Dublin Port and its introduction of a new ship (Stena Superfast X) on the Dublin to Holyhead route.

“We are expanding the capacity of Dublin Port to cater for future growth with a focus on working within the existing footprint of the port and maximising the use of existing port lands. Our plans include the lengthening and deepening of the port’s berths and shipping channel and the redevelopment of existing lands for more intensive cargo handling.

“Our current plans are centred on the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment Project which we hope to commence during 2015. In addition to providing additional capacity for cargo, this project will allow us to bring the world’s largest cruise ships right up to the East Link Bridge,” O’Reilly added.