Animal feed imports boost port traffic by 2%

A significant rise in imports — particularly of animal feed products — drove a 2% increase in container traffic at Port of Cork, last year, with throughput levels reaching a four-year high.

The end-of-year statement from the Port of Cork Company shows that a total of 9.05m tonnes was shipped through the port last year, the first time that container traffic at Cork exceeded 9m tonnes since 2008.

The better-than-expected activity levels were aided by a 12% rise in import levels, excluding oil.

Animal feedstuff imports increased by 58%, while 2012 also marked the first year that Port of Cork dealt with imports from South America and the Caribbean.

The port’s chief executive, Brendan Keating, said that, overall, the company is starting to see some stabilisation in trade levels in and out of the port.

“With 98% of volume of all goods imported or exported from Ireland, moved by ship; the importance of ports to our economy is of vital strategic importance. We will continue to look to the sectors that are performing strongly, such as food exports, and will seek to capitalise on the demand for such goods from Europe and emerging markets,” he said.

The import figures for Cork are even more impressive given reports that total imports of goods through Irish ports, as a whole, fell by around 11% last year.

While last year saw a marginal decline in imports of fertiliser, cereals and some other trades through Cork Port, oil traffic remained steady despite the lower levels of domestic economic activity.

Exports of refined product from the Whitegate Oil Refinery were strong and continue to be a significant part of the port’s business.

In other business, Port of Cork enhanced its cruise liner activity, with 57 such vessels visiting during 2012, bringing almost 100,000 passengers and crew to the region. That ship figure is scheduled to grow to 64 this year.

The port is also set to lodge its revised planning application for its long-term relocation/expansion — initially turned down last year — this summer.