Dublin Port Reports Record Profits Of €28m

Dublin Port has announced profits of over €28m for 2007.

Last year was the busiest ever year on record at the facility, with 30 million tonnes of trade throughput.

Commenting on the record trade figures Mr. Enda Connellan, CEO, Dublin Port Company, said: "Dublin Port remains the port of choice for importers and exporters to access Ireland's largest market as it is the most efficient way of getting consumer goods to Dublin retailers.

"Almost 50% of all goods flowing through the port have their origin or destination within the M50 corridor. The main driver of growth at the port is demand for consumer goods and with 4m sq ft of retail space planned for the capital in the medium term we expect continued demand for capacity at Dublin Port."

Despite the current economic troubles, the company is expecting more good results for the rest of 2008.

Dublin Port handles over two-thirds of containerised trade to and from Ireland and 50% of all Ireland's imports and exports.

Chief Financial Officer Michael Sheary says the vast majority of the traffic is consumer based.

Dublin Port Company is a self-financing, private limited company wholly-owned by the State, whose business is to manage Ireland's biggest port.

(DW)