Port of Cork reveals 'reasonable' results

The Port of Cork company have today announced their annual results for 2010.

The firm said, despite the current economic climate, the port of Cork delivered a "reasonable performance" with total traffic at the port amounting to 8.8 million tonnes, a positive increase of 8.5% on the 8.3 million tonnes generated in 2009.

Trade increases were most notable in oil traffic, animal feedstuffs, fertilisers, salt, coal, trade cars, zinc exports and roll-on roll-off (RORO) traffic.

Turnover for the year amounted to €22m (2009: €20.8m) and operating profit before exceptional costs and interest amounted to €2m (2009: €1.5m).

Profit on Ordinary Activities before taxation amounted to €2.2m. In 2009 the Port of Cork successfully completed the Cork Dockers Rationalisation allowing the port to provide more efficient, reliable and most importantly cost effective shipping services for all users in the future.

Oil traffic which is mainly handled at Conoco Phillips Whitegate Oil refinery, increased by 3.56% to 5 million tonnes.

Container traffic reduced by less than 1% to 147,526 TEU’s.

Non-oil traffic accounted for 3.4 million tonnes in 2010, an increase in 486,806 tonnes or 16.7% compared to 2009.

The Port hosted 52 cruise liners in 2010 which brought over 100,000 passengers and crew to the Cork region and a welcome contribution to the local economy.

Brittany Ferries’ Cork to Roscoff route had a very successful season operating from March to November.