Shipping trade volume returns to growth

SHIPPING trade volumes and port traffic have returned to growth, according to the latest figures issued by the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO).

Trade volumes for the first half of 2010 are up in three of the principal freight segments: lift-on/lift-off (lo/lo) export trades grew by 5%; roll-on/roll-off (ro/ro) was up 5% on an all-island basis; while dry bulk volumes through ROI ports increased by 15% in an encouraging six-month period to the end of June.

Part of this recovery is attributed to stronger domestic demand for grains, fertilisers and other agricultural products, while improved global demand for steel and other ore aggregates also pushed up volume throughput.