Irish shipping trade figures and port traffic for the first six months of 2010 show that shipping volumes have stabilised and are showing a mainly positive underlying trend.
The latest figures from the Irish Maritime Development Office show that one of the main reasons for the brighter picture is the continued strong performance of export volumes, which rose by 5% compared to the same time last year.
However, import volumes are down 2% due to continued weak domestic demand, the IMDO noted.
Today's figures show that trade volumes grew in three of the main freight segments with the lift-on/lift off (lo/lo) exports trades up by about 5%. Roll-on/Roll-off export traffic also increased by 5% on an all-island basis, while dry bulk volumes through Irish ports jumped by 15% compared to the first half of 2009.
The IMDO points out that the most significant change in volume has been in the main lo/lo trades. Overall total volumes - including exports and imports - fell by 1% in the six months to June with 517,552. This compares with a drop of 24% the same time last year.
'The outlook for continued short term volume recovery remains largely contingent on the external recovery in the global economy,' commented IMDO director Glenn Murphy.
