Decline in post-Brexit shipment of goods across Irish Sea

Lorry freight volumes moving across the Irish Sea between Britain and Ireland fell by one third in the first three quarters of 2021, the Irish Times reports.

According to the Times, as-yet unpublished industry figures show that freight volumes moving between Holyhead, in Wales, and Dublin sharply declined in the first nine months of the year, part of a broader picture of post-Brexit trade complications.

The trend mirrors post-Brexit disruptions seen in the UK, where a shortage of truck drivers has caused nationwide goods and fuel shortages in recent weeks.

At the same time, however, volumes moving directly from the rest of the EU to Ireland have increased, as companies seek to avoid transiting through the UK. There has also been an increase in ferry shipments between Northern Ireland and Britain, to circumvent customs checks in the opposite direction.

Trade continues to be a sticking point for Brussels and the British Government, with the role of the European Court of Justice in the Northern Ireland Protocol the latest contentious issue in negotiations. (Molly Killeen | EURACTIV.com)