#Ports&Shipping -The latest IMDO Weekly Shipping Market Review reports that the production of Irish Manufacturing Industries for February 2013 was 0.2% higher than the month before and increased marginally (0.1%) compared to same month last year, latest figures from CSO showed last week.

Container Market: Asia-Northern Europe traffic trade-lane for period December 2012 to January 2013 continued to disappoint, with any improvement being seasonal, as noted by Drewrys. This is unsurprising, given the faltering economic conditions throughout Europe. Westbound cargo from December 2012 to February 2013 increased by 8.7%, compare to the previous three months, September to November 2012.

Shipping Regulations: Environment - Although pollution prevention was one of the original aims of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), when established in 1948, the level of regulation has intensified in recent years. With even more environmental regulations soon to be implemented, it is coming at a bad time for the shipping world, which is currently facing a major slump, primarily due to oversupply of capacity.

To read more of each of the above stories and other news from the IMDO Shipping Markets Review for Week 14, click HERE to be viewed or downloaded as a PDF