Dublin Port has enjoyed a near 7% increase in trade during the first nine months of the year, increasing to a combined import/export total of more than 25m tonnes.

The number of imported cars passing through the port during the period was close to 10% higher than the same period in 2015 at 77,000.

Dublin Port’s cruise business grew with 103 cruise calls in the first nine months, bringing 152,000 cruise visitors to the capital.

"In the period to September this year, we handled the same volume as we did in the whole of 2009, our lowest point after the economic collapse," Eamonn O’Reilly, Chief Executive reflected.

"The pace of growth is so strong that if current growth levels were to continue into the future, Dublin Port’s volumes would double over the 12 years to 2025. Our challenge now is how best to create additional port capacity in sufficient time to stay ahead of this growth," he continued.

Mr O’Reilly outlined the company's commitment to future growth through the purchase of 44 hectares of motorway connected lands 14 km from the Port which will be developed as an External Port Logistics Zone over the next five years.

It is also preparing to develop over 50 hectares of port lands on the Poolbeg Peninsula.