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Figures from CSO Show Irish Ports Handled 11.8 Million tonnes of Goods in Q3, 2023 - Decrease of 4% on Last Year

25th January 2024
During the third quarter (Q3) of 2023, Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures show the total number of ship’s arrivals were 3,130 to the seven main Irish ports compared with 3,202 in period Q3, 2022.
During the third quarter (Q3) of 2023, Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures show the total number of ship’s arrivals were 3,130 to the seven main Irish ports compared with 3,202 in period Q3, 2022. Credit: Jehan Ashmore

Irish Ports handled 11.8 million tonnes of goods in Q3 of 2023, according to Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures - for the period of July, August and September - a 4% decrease compared with same quarter 2022.

As RTE News reports, the amount of goods forwarded from Irish Ports was 3.8 million tonnes in Q3 last year, while almost 8m tonnes of goods were received.

The CSO figures reveal, when compared with Q2 also of 2023, the total amount of tonnes in goods fell by 3% through the nation’s ports.

During Q3, 2023 the total number of merchant ships (3,130) that arrived to Ireland’s main ports: Bantry, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Rosslare, Shannon and Waterford - fell by 2% (3,202) when compared with the third quarter of 2022.

In the capital, the state owned Dublin Port Company, accounted for 61% of all vessel arrivals in Irish ports and 51% accounted in the total tonnage of goods handled over the three-months under review.

The CSO’s Statistics Of Port Traffic results (click here) has shown that Great Britain & Northern Ireland accounted for 38% of the total tonnage of goods handled through main ports by region of trade in Q3, while EU countries made up 40% of total tonnage of goods handled throughout the bloc's main ports.

Published in Irish Ports
Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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As an island economy, a healthy maritime sector is key to our national competitiveness. Virtually all our imports and exports pass through Irish ports.

Ireland is dependent on ports and shipping services to transport goods and 90% of our trade is moved though Irish ports. Shipping and maritime transport services make a significant contribution to Ireland’s ocean economy, with the sector generating €2.3 billion in turnover and employing over 5,000 people in 2018.

Ireland’s maritime industry continues to grow and progress each year with Irish ports and shipping companies making significant investments. The ports sector in Ireland is currently undergoing a number of expansions and developments with Dublin Port’s Alexandra Basin development, the development of Ringaskiddy in Cork by Port of Cork and the development of Shannon Foynes Port. Along with these major investments, shipping companies are also investing heavily in new tonnage, with Irish Ferries, CLdN and Stena leading new build programmes.

These pages cover the following sectoral areas: shipowners, harbour authorities, shipbrokers, freight forwarders and contractors, cruise liner operators, port users, seamen, merchants, academic institutions, shipyards and repair facilities, naval architects, navy and defence personnel.

Our pages are covering some of the most notable arrivals around our coast and reporting too on port development and shipping news.

This section of the site deals with Port and Shipping News on our largest ports Dublin Port, Port of Cork, the Shannon Estuary, Galway Harbour and Belfast Lough.

A recent study carried out for the Irish Ports Association (IPA) totalled 75.7 billion during 2004 and their net economic impact was some 5.5 billion supporting around 57, 500 full time employees.

Liam Lacey, Director of the Marine Institute’s Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) said, “The Irish maritime industry can look to the future with confidence. It has shown itself to be resilient and agile in responding to challenges. Over the past decade, it has had to respond to the challenges of the financial crisis of 2008, the uncertainty surrounding Brexit and recent challenges. Ireland’s maritime sector has continued to underpin our economy by maintaining vital shipping links for both trade and tourism.”