The Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) has reported that three of the five principal freight segments shrunk in the second quarter of the year.
Dry bulk volumes were up 5 per cent, while lift-on/lift-off trades stayed still at 0 per cent, but roll-on/roll-off export traffic (-1 per cent), break bulk volumes (-6 per cent) and the tanker/liquid bulk market (-6 per cent) all declined.
The IMDO blamed continual increases in bunker fuel prices, which have climbed more than US$120 a tonne since the start of 2011.
Further analysis by the IMDO showed exports expanded 6 per cent during the first half, amid particularly strong demand on long-haul routes to Asia and the US.
Container imports reduced 4 per cent in the second quarter, bringing the first-half figure down to -3 per cent and confirming a 14th consecutive quarter of declining import volumes for Ireland.
