The Dublin Port Company announced the full year trading figures for 2017. The latest figures show that cargo volumes through Dublin Port hit record levels with growth of 4.3% to reach a new record level of 36.4m gross tonnes in 2017.
To ensure future growth, Dublin Port will invest in new infrastructure based on its Masterplan to 2040 and a programme of works is already underway.
The company invested €75 million in port infrastructure in 2017 and plans to invest a further €132m during 2018. As a result, investment plans will need to accelerate to ensure that Dublin has sufficient port capacity for the years ahead.
In 2017, imports in the port of Dublin grew by 3.9% to 21.5m gross tonnes while exports grew by 4.9% to 14.9 million gross tonnes. Containers and freight trailers account for 83% of all cargo and both the Ro-Ro and Lo-Lo sectors grew strongly. Ro-Ro grew by 5.0% in 2017 to almost one million Ro-Ro units. Lo-Lo container volumes grew by 5.2% to 698,000 TEU.
Furthermore, Dublin Port’s cruise business grew as well with 127 cruise ship arrivals and growth of 32% in visitor numbers. Importantly, cruise ships are getting bigger and the average cruise ship calling at Dublin Port increased in size by 13.3%, from 39,946 gross tonnes to 45,270 gross tonnes.
Commenting on the figures, Dublin Port’s Chief Executive, Eamonn O’Reilly, said: “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 finalise 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.”