New Trade Routes Up to 20 Connecting Continent Used In Wake of Brexit Says Chambers Ireland

23rd March 2022

Rosslare Europort is featuring more heavily in Irish companies’ trade with continental Europe since Brexit with currently 36 ro-ro weekly sailings available. Above a recent scene at the Wexford port with Stena Horizon (Cherbourg route) MV Visborg (DFDS route to Dunkirk) and freight-only Seatruck Panorama (Afloat adds on charter to Stena's France route). All ferries were preparing to sail to the continent. Credit: Rosslare Europort-twitter

Companies in Ireland are using up to 20 new trade routes to get goods to continental Europe in the wake of Brexit, according to the head of business lobby group Chambers Ireland.

Ian Talbot said businesses here were increasingly avoiding the UK landbridge by using direct ferries to Europe as an alternative to avoid customs issues.

Using the traditional UK landbridge – Dublin-Holyhead-Dover-Calais – was now taking up to 15 hours longer, he told the European Parliament Committee on International Trade (INTA) on Tuesday.

“Another interesting dynamic is how trade routes have shifted with an unprecedented at least 20 different route interventions particularly for RORO (Roll-On Roll-Off) direct into Europe that used to use the landbridge,” he said.

The new routes include: Dublin-Rotterdam-Zeebrugge; Rosslare-Dunkirk;Rosslare-Bilbao; and Cork-Antwerp-Zeebrugge.

More reports The Irish Times on firms avoiding the UK landbridge.

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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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