The volume of goods shipped directly from Ireland to the EU on new Brexit-disrupting ferry routes has skyrocketed by 50% in the past six months as exporters seek to avoid overland travel across the UK, according to official data. Brother.
Figures released by the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) show significant traffic has diverted away from traditional routes between Dublin and the UK to some of the 32 new ferry services directly to ports. such as Le Havre, Cherbourg and Dunkirk in France and Zeebrugge in Belgium.
The IMDO report shows a 19% drop in freight volumes from the port of Dublin to Liverpool and Holyhead in Anglesey in the first three quarters of 2021 compared to 2020 and a 30% drop on two routes from Rosslare in south-east Ireland to the Welsh port of Pembroke and Fishguard.
“It is clear that the new trade agreements between Ireland and the UK have had a negative and significant impact on ro-ro [roll-on roll-off lorry haulage] IMDO report said. “The foundation of all these trends is the new customs and trade arrangements between Ireland and the UK that come into effect on January 1, 2021,” it added.
“A third of all transport vessels in the Republic of Ireland now operate on direct routes to ports in the European Union, up from 16% in 2019,” IMDO said.
Traffic in the second and third quarters of this year shows that traffic from the Republic of Ireland to the EU has increased by 52% compared to the whole of 2019, it added.
The drop in demand for ferry services to Wales and Liverpool has also seen ports in Northern Ireland receive a Brexit dividend, with shipping volumes reaching “unprecedented highs in 2021”.
Historically, freighters in Northern Ireland preferred the Dublin-Holyhead route as the fastest way to reach markets in the south and southeast of England, but some have now avoided the route.” to avoid new customs requirements regarding Irish and UK ports,” the reports said.
This means an increase in traffic at Northern Ireland’s three ports, with 15 per cent increases in Belfast, 18 per cent in Larne and 20 per cent in Warrenpoint.
An increase in the number of direct ferry services to France, from 12 before Brexit to 44 in 2021, coupled with concerns about possible delays to customs checks in Dover and Calais, have helped spur push the trade diversion from the Republic directly to the continent. .
Rosslare Europort benefits the most. It currently accounts for 49% of traffic in the EU, with another 49% going through Dublin and 2% via Cork.
On Saturday, Rosslare Europort said it had its busiest day in history. Its general manager, Glenn Carr, put the increased demand down because of a desire to avoid the UK, but also reduced trade with the UK because of Brexit red tape and costs.
“In specific industries, we are certainly seeing where a lot of the goods that have traditionally originated in the UK or exported to the UK have had a transition to Europe,” he told the magazine. Journal.ie. “We certainly see it in port in terms of the mix of existing goods – raw materials, food, dairy, pharmaceuticals.”
