The latest Unitised Traffic Report for Q2 2026, published by the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO), details the key points of its findings and is detailed below.
Unitised traffic throughout ports on the island of Ireland recorded growth of 3% during the second quarter of 2026. Click here to download a PDF of the report.
Ro Ro Volumes
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.
New Ro Ro (Ferry) Service
An additional RoRo service commenced this quarter at the port of Larne, Co. Antrim, linking Douglas, Isle of Man. It is operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (using initially fast-ferry, Manannan, flagship, Manxman, and ro-pax Ben-My-Chree). According to the Steam Packet, the Larne service will operate three times per week year-round. During the peak season, two additional weekly services to Dublin Port will increase the company’s total number of sailings to the island of Ireland to five per week.
Since the Larne link launched was announced, Afloat highlights there have been significant operational changes since, due to a combination of factors that have led to different vessels used within the fleet, coupled by more recent technical issues with the flagship. In addition, in recent years, due to storm damage at Holyhead and berthing incidents affecting port infrastructure and ongoing repairs, a knock-on effect has led to restricted berthing slots at North Wales, affecting Irish Sea operators with Dublin and between the capital and the Manx service to Douglas too.
Lo-Lo Volumes
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.
