IMDO Unitised Traffic Report Q2 2026   

Unitised traffic on the island of Ireland recorded growth of 3% during the second quarter of 2026. RoRo volumes in the Republic of Ireland increased by 5% year-on-year. In Northern Ireland, RoRo throughput was steady at 234,981 units (234,069 Q2 25). The port of Cork recorded strong growth of RoRo throughput (+29% + 542 units) in Q2. The rate of growth on ROI-EU routes exceeded growth on ROI – GB routes in Q2 (+7% vs +4%). The distribution of All Island RoRo remains in line with previous quarters.

An additional RoRo service commenced this quarter at the port of Larne. The new Larne – Isle of Man service is operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet company on vessel Ben-My-Chree. According to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, the Larne service will operate three times per week year-round. During the peak season, two additional weekly services to Dublin will increase the company’s total number of sailings to the island of Ireland to five per week.

LoLo traffic continued its upward trajectory in Q2 2026. ROI ports handled 345,567 TEU in Q2, a 2% increase relative to the same quarter last year. When viewed over a longer horizon, second quarter LoLo volumes have risen from approximately 310,000 TEU in Q2 2022 to almost 346,000 TEU in Q2 2026. This is the highest Q2 LoLo total recorded by the IMDO and reflects a consistent expansion rather than a sudden shift. In Northern Ireland, Belfast port recorded robust LoLo growth of 8% (+4,453 TEU).

Taken together, Q2 2026 continues the pattern observed in recent years: a stable RoRo market and a steady upward trend in LoLo traffic supported by robust consumption in the Irish economy.

The domestic economy is forecast to continue growing, although the outlook remains subject to considerable uncertainty. According to the Central Bank of Ireland’s latest Quarterly Bulletin, Modified Domestic Demand is projected to increase by 3.3% in 2026. Growth is expected to be supported by strong investment, particularly in AI and data-centre-related capital goods, offsetting weaker consumption as higher energy prices weigh on household incomes. Employment is forecast to grow by 1.2% in 2026, while unemployment is projected to rise modestly to 5.1%. HICP inflation is forecast to increase from 2.1% in 2025 to 3.5% in 2026, largely reflecting higher energy prices associated with the conflict in the Middle East and disruption to the Strait of Hormuz.

Passenger volumes declined at both NI and ROI ports in Q2 2026. NI ports handled 557,814 passengers, falling below the Q2 2019 level of 586,247 after surpassing it in Q2 2025. Passenger throughput at ROI ports also remained below its pre-pandemic level, approximately 90,000 passengers short of the 756,438 recorded in Q2 2019. Passenger vehicle traffic declined year-on-year by 7% at ROI ports and 5% at NI ports. The IMDO will continue to monitor these trends as part of its quarterly assessment of Ireland’s maritime sector.

Unitised Traffic Report Q1 2026

Unitised traffic on the island of Ireland remained stable in the first quarter of 2026. RoRo volumes in the Republic of Ireland increased by 2% year-on-year. In Northern Ireland, RoRo throughput declined by 2% to 222,837 units.

ROI–GB and ROI–EU RoRo volumes increased in the first quarter. Traffic on ROI–GB routes increased by 4% year-on-year. In January 2025 the Port of Holyhead closed due to damage from Storm Darragh. As this key port remained closed for a period in January 2025, a more relevant comparison is with Q1 2024, where ROI-GB RoRo growth is flat (287,909 units vs 287,716 units).

LoLo traffic continued its upward trajectory in Q1 20261. ROI ports handled 310,692 TEU in Q1, a 1% increase relative to the same quarter last year. When viewed over a longer horizon, first quarter LoLo volumes have risen from approximately 284,000 TEU in Q1 2022 to almost 311,000 TEU in Q1 2026. This is the highest Q1 LoLo total recorded by the IMDO and reflects a consistent multi-year expansion rather than a sudden shift. In Northern Ireland, Belfast port recorded robust LoLo growth of 7% (+3,595 TEU).

Passenger activity recovered in Q1 2026 from the disruption caused by the closure of the Port of Holyhead last year. RoRo passenger numbers increased by 9% in ROI ports, supported by strong numbers at Dublin. Compared with Q1 2024, ROI passenger volumes were 10% lower, a decline of approximately 35,000 passengers. Passenger vehicle volumes at Dublin were also notably higher, increasing by 88% year-on-year. As with passenger numbers, the Holyhead closure due to Storm Darragh weighed on Q1 2025 volumes, making the year-on-year comparison more pronounced.

The composition of the Irish freight market shifted in Q1 2026, as CLDN acquired Samskip’s quay-to-quay and door-to-door freight business between the Continent and UK & Ireland. The IMDO will continue to monitor the impact of such changes on schedules, freight volumes and services.

The wider economic environment continues to show signs of resilience. According to the Central Bank's latest Quarterly Bulletin2, Modified Domestic Demand is forecast to increase by 2.9% in 2026, reflecting underlying strength in household spending and domestic economic activity. This outlook is maintained despite elevated uncertainty stemming from the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East. Employment growth is expected to ease to below 2% per annum, while unemployment remains below 5%. CPI inflation is forecast to rise, driven by higher oil and gas prices linked to the war in Iran.

Taken together, Q1 2026 continues the pattern observed in recent years: a stable RoRo market operating within a narrow range, and a steady upward trend in LoLo traffic driven by increased consumption in the Irish economy. Passenger volumes remain robust in ROI ports and the broader economic backdrop supports ongoing resilience in unitised activity. The IMDO will continue to assess these trends as part of its quarterly monitoring of Ireland’s maritime sector.
 

In the first half of 2025, unitised traffic on the island of Ireland exhibited diverging patterns across the two principal cargo modes. Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) volumes in the Republic of Ireland declined modestly, falling by 2% to 573,038 units, while Northern Ireland recorded a 2% increase to 460,730 units. By contrast, Lift-on/Lift-off (LoLo) throughput grew strongly in the Republic of Ireland, increasing by 11% to 643,631 TEUs, while remaining broadly stable in Northern Ireland at 109,412 TEUs. The combined effect is that all-island RoRo traffic was largely unchanged on 2024 levels, while all-island LoLo volumes rose by 9%.

These traffic outcomes took place against a backdrop of favourable macroeconomic conditions. According to the Central Statistics Office, inflation in Ireland averaged 1.6% in the first half of 2025, below the Eurozone average of 2%. Unemployment stood at 4.7%, compared with 5.9% in the EU, while employment levels remain historically high, with half a million additional jobs created since 2019.1 Fiscal policy has also remained expansionary, supported by elevated corporation tax receipts. The Government’s Summer Economic Statement 20252 announced €34 billion in additional capital investment over the next decade, including electrical grid, water, housing, and transport infrastructure. These indicators point to continued strength in the domestic economy and provide a supportive environment for trade flows through Irish ports.

Within this context, the most notable development in recent quarters has been the divergence in trends between the RoRo and LoLo markets. The IMDO’s analysis using a Hodrick–Prescott (HP) filter of quarterly time series data highlights this divergence clearly. The HP filter is a standard statistical tool used in economics to separate long-term trends from short-term fluctuations. When applied to RoRo and LoLo volumes, it shows that RoRo traffic has plateaued and is gradually declining, while LoLo traffic is on a pronounced upward trajectory. The chart below illustrates these opposing movements, with LoLo throughput reaching new highs while RoRo stabilises.

This juxtaposition is significant for policymakers and industry stakeholders as RoRo and LoLo represent approximately half of all freight transport through Irish ports. Their diverging paths have implications for infrastructure planning and future capacity requirements. The relationship between the two modes is complex, with substitutability varying across markets, routes, and product groups. The IMDO continues to analyse these dynamics and engage with shipping operators, port companies, and trade stakeholders to better understand the drivers.

The evidence to date confirms that the unitised freight market remains resilient, with LoLo recording record throughput in the Republic of Ireland and RoRo volumes holding steady. The differing trajectories underline the importance of continuous monitoring, rigorous analysis, and open dialogue with industry. The IMDO will continue to report quarterly on these developments, providing government and stakeholders with objective and timely information to inform policy and investment decisions.

In the third quarter of 2024, the unitised traffic market, comprised of the Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) and Lift-on/Lift-off (LoLo)
sectors, showed contrasting trends.

ROI RoRo volumes recorded a 1% decline compared to Q3 2023. Rosslare-Europort was the only port to record an increase,
with volumes growing by 2%. This was driven by an increase in traffic on Rosslare – GB routes, which have declined
significantly through this port post-Brexit. In Dublin, RoRo volumes fell by 1%, stemming from a drop in Dublin – EU traffic.
However, the fluctuations this quarter were minimal. For the first nine months of the year, RoRo volumes are similar to
those of 2023, lagging just 1% behind. The decrease in 2024 has resulted from small, but consistent declines in driver
accompanied traffic, with unaccompanied RoRo traffic remaining stable. There has also been remarkable stability in the
separate markets for ROI – GB and ROI – EU RoRo traffic, post-Brexit. Since the midway point of 2021, both have averaged
0% monthly growth on a seasonally adjusted basis, indicating no sign of a return to their pre-Brexit levels.

The RoRo market in 2024 can therefore be characterised as steady, but ultimately lacking upward momentum. That stands
in stark contrast to the LoLo market, where volumes are rising sharply. LoLo volumes in Q3 2024 grew by 15% compared
to the same period in 2023, achieving a record high of approximately 320,000 TEU’s in one quarter. For the first nine
months of the year, LoLo volumes are outperforming 2023 by 10%. The sector is on track to exceed the previous annual
record of 1.17 million TEU’s recorded in 2021, when COVID-19 changes in consumer behaviour drove a surge in traffic.

Such growth is a welcome development in this market after a difficult 2023, when inflationary pressures resulted in an
annual decline of 5%. All of the losses from that year are set to be recovered in 2024. All three LoLo ports – Dublin, Cork
and Waterford - have benefited from the increase in traffic, with market shares remaining relatively stable. Among them,
Dublin Port has performed marginally better than its counterpart ports. This is attributable to modal shifts, from RoRo to
LoLo, that have occurred within the port this year.

Overall, more containerised cargo is passing through Irish ports in 2024 compared to 2023. That is not surprising, given
that inflation rates have eased considerably compared to 2023, and domestic demand remains strong. That is reflected in
the latest report by the Central Bank of Ireland, which forecasts domestic demand to grow by 2.4% in 2024 and the
inflation rate to fall to 1.6% for the year. When combined, Irish unitised traffic is performing well in 2024. Combined
volumes are above 2023 and slightly behind 2022. This sector of the Irish shipping market therefore remains stable and
resilient in the wake of rising prices in recent years. 

The first half of 2024 has been marked by resilience and steady performance in Ireland's maritime transport sector. Despite
global economic challenges over the past 12 months, including inflationary pressures and shifting energy demands, Irish
ports have maintained strong throughput levels, highlighting their critical role in supporting the national economy.

Strong Economic Environment

Ireland’s broader economic environment has been favorable, with the Central Bank of Ireland noting a robust rebound
from the pandemic and other global disruptions. Rising real incomes, a surge in residential construction, and stabilizing
activities in multinational-dominated sectors have underpinned both domestic and headline economic growth in 2024.
This positive economic backdrop has been crucial in sustaining the volume of goods passing through Irish ports, even as
the global shipping market grapples with challenges.

Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) Traffic

RoRo traffic across Irish ports remained stable in the first half of 2024. The Republic of Ireland’s ports handled 584,212
units, a slight 1% decrease from the previous year, largely due to very modest declines at Dublin and Rosslare-Europort.
In Northern Ireland, RoRo traffic increased by 2%, driven by strong performances at Larne and Warrenpoint.
The first half of 2024 saw a mixed performance in Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) traffic between the Republic of Ireland and Great
Britain (ROI-GB) and between the Republic of Ireland and mainland Europe (ROI-EU). ROI-GB routes recorded a slight
decline of 1%, with 4,180 fewer units compared to H1 2023. Despite this, the ROI-GB market remains steady, indicating
stable demand and market conditions. ROI-EU routes also experienced a minor decline of 1%, with 1,556 fewer units.
However, the volume on these routes remains significantly higher than pre-Brexit levels, demonstrating the continued
demand for direct services to mainland European ports.

Lift-on/Lift-off (LoLo) Traffic

LoLo traffic experienced a solid upward trajectory, with volumes increasing by 8% across Republic of Ireland ports. Dublin
Port was the standout performer, recording a 9% increase in TEUs. As the report shows, this increase at Dublin Port was
driven largely by a modal shift in the unitised traffic sector. New LoLo services were added to Dublin Port in the second
quarter of 2024, with drove existing RoRo traffic on direct services to mainland European ports to shift towards these new
LoLo services.

Cork and Waterford also posted gains, contributing to overall growth. This steady increase in LoLo traffic underscores the
adaptability of Irish ports in responding to shifting market demands, particularly in the context of the post-Brexit
environment.

Passenger and Passenger Vehicle Traffic

The passenger market at Republic of Ireland ports faced some challenges in H1 2024, with a 3% decrease in overall
passenger numbers. Only Cork reported an increase in passenger volumes, offsetting declines in other regions. The
passenger vehicle market also saw a slight decline of 4%, reflecting broader pressures in this RoRo segment.

Outlook

As Ireland continues to navigate global economic uncertainties, its ports remain a resilient backbone of the national
economy. The Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) remains committed to supporting this critical sector, particularly through its involvement in various EU sustainability initiatives. These efforts, combined with the robust economic
conditions highlighted by the Central Bank of Ireland, position the Irish maritime sector for continued growth and
adaptation in the coming years. This report reinforces the importance of the maritime transport sector in facilitating
Ireland's trade and economic stability, ensuring uninterrupted access to international markets through our ports and
shipping services.

RoRo traffic in Republic of Ireland (ROI) ports declined by 2% in the fourth quarter of 2023, to 289,971 units. When compared to recent years, this represents a subdued performance, as it is the first time in five years that RoRo traffic has failed to surpass 290,000 units in the fourth quarter. In the intervening years (2018 – 2022), fourth quarter RoRo volumes averaged 305,000 units. In Northern Ireland, RoRo volumes grew by 4%, to 222,740 units. On the island of Ireland, RoRo traffic amounted to 512,711 units, or 1% higher than Q4 2022.

The 2% decline in ROI RoRo traffic in Q4 2023 was driven primarily by ROI – GB routes. One of the factors behind this decline was the ending of the P&O service between Dublin and Liverpool, which was announced in August 2023. The service wound down in the final months of the year, meaning comparisons between Dublin – GB traffic in Q4 2023 and 2022 were affected. In December 2023, it was announced that Stena Line will enter this market by adding a service between Dublin and Liverpool that will begin in February 20241. The announcement is reflective of two characteristics of the Irish RoRo market. Firstly, the ability for shipping companies to respond quickly and add capacity at relatively short notice, and secondly, the resilience of demand for ROI – GB services, despite post-Brexit declines.

At port level, volumes were mixed. Dublin Port handled 236,571 units, a decline of 5% versus Q4 2022. In Rosslare Europort however, RoRo volumes grew by 12%. At 51,714 units, this is the highest Q4 volume for Rosslare recorded by the IMDO. As mentioned in previous IMDO reporting in 2023, Rosslare RoRo traffic has benefitted from a shift in demand towards direct (ROI – EU) routes following the end of the Brexit transition period. In 2023, the increase in RoRo traffic at Rosslare was driven by an announcement in late 2022 that a Cork-Zeebrugge service operated by Grimaldi would move to Rosslare Europort. Finnlines, a Finnish shipping company that is part of the Grimaldi Group, now operates the service from Rosslare. In February 2023, Finnlines announced that a second vessel will be added to this route from Rosslare.

In the LoLo market, traffic at ROI ports rose by 5% in Q4 2023, to 278,850 TEU’s. In Northern Ireland, volumes grew by 4% through Belfast, and for the island of Ireland, TEU volumes grew by 5%.

The 5% growth recorded in LoLo traffic in Q4 is a welcome development, as it brings to an end four consecutive quarters of steep annual declines, during which time LoLo traffic declined by an average of 8% per quarter. However, the volumes handled this quarter at ROI ports still represent an underperformance. Throughout 2021 and 2022, LoLo volumes averaged above 290,000 TEU’s per quarter.

Overall, unitised (container) volumes, which encompasses both RoRo and LoLo markets, were below trend in Q4 2023, and have stagnated throughout the year. This is not surprising, given the difficult economic environment within which Irish importers and exporters have traded in recent years. Sharp increases in inflation, rising interest rates, and sluggish global growth have suppressed unitised traffic, beginning in the latter half of 2022. However, unitised traffic has also avoided sharp declines, holding onto much of the gains made during the COVID-19 related surge in trade. When the recent challenges are considered, the theme of unitised traffic at ports on the island of Ireland instead becomes one of resilience in 2023.

Overall, unitised volumes, which encompasses both RoRo and LoLo markets, were below trend in Q4 2023, and have stagnated throughout the year. This is not surprising, given the difficult economic environment within which Irish importers and exporters have traded in recent years. However, unitised traffic has also avoided sharp declines. When the recent challenges are considered, the theme of unitised traffic at ports on the island of Ireland instead becomes one of resilience in 2023.

The volume of RoRo traffic at Republic of Ireland ports declined by 2% to 291,879 units in the third quarter of 2023 when compared to the same period in 2022. Traffic to ports in Great Britain and ports in mainland Europe both fell by 2% each. All three Irish RoRo ports – Dublin, Cork and Rosslare Europort – recorded a decline this quarter. For RoRo traffic, July and August are relatively quiet months, as the holiday season is in full force. September however, is a busy month, with volumes typically 3% above average as preparations begin for the pre-Christmas period. In September 2023, volumes declined by 5% when compared to 2022.

In all, the volumes recorded in Q3 2023 are slightly below trend for the Irish RoRo market, whereby the long term trajectory of volumes are roughly 300,000 units per quarter. Passing 1.2m RoRo units for the full year, as was achieved in 2022, is now unlikely, but shipping operators and ports will be hopeful that the busy months of October and November can recoup some of the losses from this year.

In the LoLo market, traffic declined by 6% to 277,60 TEU’s. For each of the three Irish LoLo ports, this is the lowest third quarter performance of the post-Brexit era1. The long term trajectory of Irish LoLo traffic is between 290,000 – 295,000 TEU’s per quarter. The latter half of 2022 and the first three quarters of 2023 has been a difficult period for this sector, with volumes generally below trend.

In Northern Ireland, RoRo traffic performed strongly in Q3 2023, as volumes rose by 3%. In the LoLo sector, traffic was roughly equivalent to Q3 2022. This is a resilient performance from Northern Irish ports in the face of difficult economic headwinds.
For Irish unitised traffic (i.e. RoRo and LoLo), the predominant factor driving declines in 2023 has been high inflation and interest rates, coupled with heightened geopolitical uncertainty. Higher prices, higher borrowing costs, and greater uncertainty serve to suppress demand for finished products such as those transported by the unitised shipping sector.

Irish unitised traffic is sensitive to domestic demand indicators such as Irish consumption levels, GDP and modified domestic demand. On all three measures, the outlook is positive for 2024 in Ireland, as the Central Bank2 predicts increases of more than 2%. Internationally, the outlook is mixed. The IMF3 recently described the global economic outlook as ‘stable but slow’, with global growth expected to fall from 3.5% to 3% in 2023, and 2.9% in 2024.

This characterization by the IMF is reflective of the performance of the global container market, a useful bellwether for the global economic outlook. Clarkson’s Research4 predicts European container exports to both Asia and North America to decline in 2023 by 6% and 10% respectively in 2023. Intra-regional container trade in Europe is expected to decline by 6%. These indicators are highly relevant to Irish ports, as this global containership network is essential for Irish importers and exporters to access international markets.

Overall, resilient domestic demand is offsetting difficult global economic conditions. Irish ports have recorded declines in Q3 2023, but have held on to the gains made in recent years, avoiding steep declines in traffic.

In the first six months of 2023, the volumes handled by the Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) and Lift-on/Lift-off cargo modes at Irish ports declined significantly. When compared to the first half of 2022, RoRo volumes fell by 3%, equivalent to 20,000 fewer RoRo units. LoLo traffic fell by 9%, or 55,000 TEU’s, over the same period.

The predominant driver of these declines has been inflation, which has risen considerably both at home and abroad over the last 18 months. Beginning with a rapid rise in energy costs in early 2022, the cost of transporting goods, and the cost of goods themselves, has risen sharply. This has suppressed trade at our ports, with traffic on almost all routes declining to some degree. This report analyses the performance of the unitised (i.e. RoRo and LoLo) freight markets throughout these tough economic conditions.

The report is split into three sections. In section 1, the performance of RoRo traffic in Q1 and Q2 2023 is detailed. The same is provided for LoLo traffic in Section 2. In Section 3, an appendix is provided which includes data for all cargo modes - including bulk traffic, passenger traffic and the IMDO’s iShip index - for the first six months of the year.

In the RoRo market, volumes in Q1 and Q2 declined by 4% and 3% respectively. Volumes in both quarters were below the long term trend for the sector, the benchmark for which is approximately 300,000 units per quarter. When seasonally adjusted, RoRo traffic declined on a quarterly basis in four of the last five quarters. Rosslare-Europort was the only port to record an increase compared to 2022. This was driven by an announcement in late 2022 that a Cork-Zeebrugge service operated by Grimaldi would move to Rosslare Europort. Finnlines, a Finnish shipping company that is part of the Grimaldi Group, now operates the service from Rosslare.

The breakdown in RoRo traffic between ports in mainland Great Britain (ROI – GB) and ports in mainland Europe (ROI – EU) has now exhibited the same post-Brexit trends for ten consecutive quarters. ROI – EU, or direct, RoRo traffic continues to represent 1 in 3 RoRo units, compared to 1 in 6 prior to January 2021.1 As a result, there is no immediate sign of a return to the pre-Brexit makeup of the Irish RoRo freight market.

In the LoLo market, volumes in Q1 and Q2 declined by 7% and 11% respectively. The declines in LoLo traffic were also reflected at an international level. As described in Section 2, global seaborne trade indicators for container traffic exhibited sharp declines, particularly in the early months of 2023, a trend that was mirrored at Irish ports.

Overall, the volumes recorded in the unitised freight market at Irish ports in the first half of 2023 were sluggish, below trend, and reflective of the suppressive effect inflation has had on international trade volumes. However, there are several reasons to be optimistic about the near future for Irish maritime traffic. Firstly, inflation has begun to ease across the EU. In Ireland, the inflation rate in July was 4.6%, its lowest level since September 2021. Secondly, according to latest Central Bank reports, domestic growth in Ireland remains robust and is higher than what was expected earlier in the year. Unemployment is extremely low, and this is creating resilience within the economy. Abroad, EU growth is subdued, while US growth is improving. Both are also buoyed by high employment levels. Most importantly, global inflation rates are easing.

In all, there are positive signals that the declines recorded at Irish ports may be temporary, and that the worst period may have passed. As we have seen from the disruption caused by both Brexit and COVID-19 in recent years, there is a resilience in the Irish maritime freight market that is essential to overcoming economic headwinds such as these.