| Belfast is the Centre of Northern Ireland's Freight | | | | port of Belfast, the total volume of freight shipping |
| Shipping Industry | | | | has tripled over the last 25 years. There has also |
| The port of Belfast is the main maritime gateway in | | | | been a 1000% increase in roll on and roll off freight |
| Northern Ireland. Established as a key centre of | | | | shipping and a 200% increase in container traffic. |
| commerce four hundred years ago, it is now | | | | Key Reasons for the Increase in Freight Shipping |
| experiencing one of its busiest periods ever in the | | | | Key freight performers in 2005 that help account for |
| freight shipping industry. | | | | the increase in freight shipping from the port of |
| The port of Belfast has become the focus of | | | | Belfast include:o The import and export of stone and |
| Northern Ireland's freight shipping industry. It handles | | | | cement. These increased by 16% and 11% |
| two thirds of Northern Ireland's freight shipping trade, | | | | respectively in 2005. The reason for the growth of |
| which equates to half a million freight units each year. | | | | these areas lies in the UK's and Ireland's buoyant |
| Recent figures show that the port of Belfast handled | | | | construction industries.o The volume of traffic passing |
| more than 17 million tones of freight in 2005. This | | | | through Belfast also helps explain the growth it has |
| makes it the second busiest year in the ports long | | | | experienced in freight shipping. |
| history. | | | | According to the Commercial Director of the port of |
| Freight Shipping Increases | | | | Belfast: |
| The increase in Belfast's freight shipping activities was | | | | "Wider changes in society are also reflected. The |
| driven by a noticeable boost in trade in the breakbulk | | | | move towards alternative energy sources has |
| sector. This sector includes items like steel and | | | | reduced domestic coal imports from a peak of |
| timber. Furthermore, paper product imports grew to | | | | 604,000 tonnes in 1985 to just under 200,000 |
| 100,000 tonnes. This represents an increase of 73% | | | | tonnnes in 2005, while the building boom has helped |
| against the previous year. | | | | double the amount of timber handled since the late |
| Moreover, according to statistics released by the | | | | 1990s. |