#Ports&Shipping -The latest Weekly Shipping Market Review from the Irish Marine Development Office (IMDO) reports that Asia will be a key trading partner in future Irish export growth according to a report from HSBC Global Connections.

Research from the bank predicts that China will overtake France and Japan to become Ireland's fourth largest export destination by 2030.

In the weekly summary from the Short-Sea Shipping sector, there has been a gradual and steady decline since around the end of October last year, there appears to be signs of rates levelling over the past few weeks, with overall rates remaining stable although pressure remains downwards

Germany's merchant fleet, the third largest in the world, is experiencing stalling growth, as liquidity and capital shortages are taking their toll. The level of tonnage owned and managed by the German fleet is declining for the first time in a decade, according to German Shipowners' association VDR.

The complete IMDO Shipping Markets Review for week 9 is available as a PDF to read or download HERE.