Belfast Harbour Plans Port Expansion to Meet Trade Demand

Belfast Harbour announced plans to expand the Northern Irish port to accommodate growing trade demand. The expansion will add new berths, deepen channels, and upgrade cargo-handling infrastructure. Officials said the work will increase annual throughput by roughly 30 percent over the next decade.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027 and finish by 2032. The port authority will fund the project through a combination of retained earnings and long-term borrowing. Local businesses and shipping lines have welcomed the announcement, citing reduced congestion and faster turnaround times for vessels.

Current annual cargo volume stands at approximately 25 million tonnes. After completion, the port expects to handle up to 32 million tonnes per year. The expansion follows similar investments at other European ports seeking to capture post-pandemic trade growth.