#PortTrafficStats - Irish ports handled 50.7 million tonnes of goods in 2015 according to the Central Statistics Office, an increase of 3.2 million tonnes (+6.7%) when compared to 2014.

Goods forwarded fell by 7.5% to 17.0 million tonnes in 2015, while goods received increased by 15.7% to 33.6 million tonnes over the same period.

The tonnage of goods handled rose in all traffic categories with the largest percentage increase in break bulk and all other goods (+16.7%).

The annual CSO analysis also shows that:

• The number of vessels arriving annually in Irish ports increased marginally by 0.3% to 12,242 in 2015, and the total gross tonnage of vessels rose by 3.9% to 231.7 million tonnes.
• Goods received accounted for two-thirds (66.4%) of the total tonnage of goods handled in 2015. The corresponding figure for 2014 was 61.2%. See Tables 5, 6, 7, 10, 11 and 12.
• Of the total weight of goods handled in 2015, dry bulk accounted for 31.3%, roll-on/roll-off 27.4%, liquid bulk 24.5%, lift-on/lift-off 13.8% and break bulk 2.9%.

The routes between Dublin and three UK ports – Holyhead (ro-ro), Milford Haven (liquid-bulk) and Liverpool (ro-ro and lo-lo) were the busiest routes for inward movement of goods (goods received) in 2015.

The Dublin-Holyhead and Dublin-Liverpool routes were also the busiest routes in terms of goods forwarded.