Dublin Port trade down 10%

Imports and exports at Dublin Port were down 10.5% year-on-year for 2009, the company said today, a lower reduction than the expected fall of 14%.

Import and export levels stabilised in the second half of the year following falling trade levels in the first half of 2009, the company said.

"Consequently, total throughput is only 14% lower than the record highs of 2007 and Dublin Port is still handling four to five times the level of trade than 15 years ago," a statement said.

December saw a slight uplift year-on-year.

Trade levels have stabilised around 2.2 million tonnes per month since April. The final quarter showed the most resilient figures with trade volumes of 6.9 million tonnes which was broadly on par with the same quarter in 2008.

The strongest performance was in the tourism sector where ferry passenger numbers rose by 18% to 1.5 million and almost 80 cruise liners stopped off at Dublin Port.

“It is encouraging to see that trade levels have stabilised over a number of months in what has been a very challenging year for Ireland’s economy," said Chief Executive Enda Connellan.