Dublin Port Posts Best Half-Year Results

Ireland’s Dublin Port is on track for a record trading year in 2015 after posting improved half-year results across all business areas.

The highest spike was recorded in cruise ship calls. Some 42 cruise ships have already called at Dublin Port in the first six months of the year, up 35.5% on the same period last year, bringing over 56,000 (56,498) visitors to the capital, an increase of 11.7% on figures for the year to date in 2014.

The figures also show growth in both import and export trade at the port, with overall cargo volumes rising 5% on the same period last year. Total throughput for the year to date was 16 million gross tonnes.

Dublin Port Company says that the figures reflect continued growth in the domestic economy, driven by the increased movement of unitised goods.

”By year end, we expect to see two million passengers pass through the port. Having seen 10% growth in cargo volumes over 2013 and 2014 and, against a background of strong growth in the domestic economy, we foresee Dublin’s volumes continuing to increase in the years ahead as we envisaged in our Masterplan to 2040. This growth will require major and continuing investment in port infrastructure and we have both the plans and investment in place to do this,” said Eamonn O’Reilly, Chief Executive, Dublin Port Company.