Belfast remains the UK’s busiest port for domestic cross-channel traffic
Date published:
New accredited official statistics published today by NISRA present detailed analysis of freight and passenger traffic through Northern Ireland ports during 2024.
Key findings
- The total tonnage through Northern Ireland ports in 2024 was 28.4 million tonnes, an increase of 2.1% from the previous year.
- Over the year, the total tonnage of inward traffic increased by 4.1% to 17.0 million tonnes, and outward traffic decreased by 0.7% to 11.4 million tonnes.
- Belfast Port handled the majority of Northern Ireland traffic, accounting for 63.8% of total tonnage. Port of Larne accounted for 14.7% and Warrenpoint handled 11.6% of the total.
- A total of 938,784 road goods vehicles passed through Northern Ireland ports in 2024 an increase of 2.3% from 917,437 in 2023.
- A total of 557,080 non-freight vehicles passed through Northern Ireland ports in 2024. This compared with a figure of 570,114 in 2023, a decrease of 2.3%.
About this publication
The Department for Transport (DfT) collects and publishes statistics about passenger and freight traffic through the ports of the UK.
Following publication of the final annual release by the DfT, statisticians within NISRA analyse the data which relate to Northern Ireland ports and release this information as the "Northern Ireland Ports Traffic" publication.
This publication provides summary statistical information on passenger and freight traffic through Northern Ireland ports.
Further information
View the full report, background information and data tables: