Ireland's agri-food exporters are facing an increase in non-EU shipping costs, as the major deep sea shipping companies increase their prices from today by €1,140 per container.
This represents an increase of roughly 30% in the cost for a refrigerated container to Asia, and an approximate 50% increase in rates to Africa.
The Irish Exporters Association says the increases will impact heavily on all Irish agri-food exporters.
The association has called for EU intervention, as the price increase will damage not only Irish exports but all European agri-food and fish exports to destinations outside the EU.
