IRISH container traffic increased 10 per cent to 170,108 TEU in the second quarter year on year, according to data from the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO).
Irish Republic second quarter port volumes up 10pc to 170,108 TEUIRISH container traffic increased 10 per cent to 170,108 TEU in the second quarter year on year, according to data from the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO).
Overall cargo volume in the Republic of Ireland increased three per cent in the second quarter of 2015 when compared to the corresponding period of 2014, according to the quarterly iShip Index.
Box imports have now risen for seven quarters, reaching 95,550 TEU. Exports were up nine per cent to 74,558 TEU, the highest quarter since the 76,752 TEU record of Q2 2008.
The latest analysis also indicates that four of the five principal freight segments grew in the second quarter of 2015.
Containerised and ro-ro traffic continued to rise with an average growth of six per cent per quarter year on year, according to IMDO's iShip Index data.
Most ro/ro traffic moves between Ireland and Britain, becoming a reliable indicator of the level of trade between the two both economies. Ro/ro grew seven per cent in the second quarter to 258,390 units in the 10th quarterly rise.
When Northern Ireland ports are included, all-island quarterly ro/ro volume grew four per cent. All-island container traffic grew five per cent with imports up six per cent and exports up four per cent year on year.
Irish bulk volumes were up one per cent year on year, excluding transshipments, an rise driven by an 11 per cent increase in liquid bulk (again oil transhipments were excluded), with petroleum based products in particular showing strong growth.
Breakbulk, mostly imports of construction and project related commodities, increased 14 per cent. Breakbulk has now seen nine consecutive quarterly increases.
There was a six per cent quarterly fall in dry bulk traffic with trade in animal feed, fertiliser and coal affected the most. This follows a six per cent increase in the first quarter. High fluctuation in volume is typical on a quarterly basis.