SHANNON Foynes Port Company (SFPC) delivered record tonnages through its primary port at Foynes in 2025.
Tonnages at the West Limerick port increased by 10.8 per cent year on year, marking the busiest ever year at the port.
However, according to Pat Keating, CEO of SFPC, enhanced port connectivity – particularly the on-time delivery of the Limerick to Foynes Road – is “critical for the Shannon Estuary port to fulfil its potential”, adding that it would “relieve pressure on the national supply-chain, particularly the east coast”.
Total tonnage across the six terminals overseen by SFPC on the Estuary rose by 2.3 per cent to 9.36 million tonnes in 2025, up from 9.15 million tonnes in 2024.
The record performance at Foynes Port was driven by particularly strong activity in energy, agri, construction, bulk commodities, and  containerised/unitised cargoes. While the container service  currently operates as a closed-loop system, it has nonetheless  provided SFPC with a strong platform to demonstrate Foynes Port’s capability as a full-service container port, the company said.
Further commenting on the results, Mr Keating said: “Achieving  record throughput at Foynes Port is a significant milestone and  reflects both the strength of our customer base and the strategic  importance of the Shannon Estuary to Ireland’s economy.”
“Growth across energy, agri, and other key sectors highlights the importance, resilience, and diversity of activity at the port.
“These results reinforce our  confidence in the  long-term  vision for  Foynes as a national logistics  hub and offshore energy  centre. However, they also underline the urgent need to unlock the full potential  of the port through critical infrastructure”, he added.
To fully leverage the deep-water capacity of Shannon Foynes Port,  he said, it is imperative that planned connectivity is delivered  without delay.
“Alongside the Limerick to Foynes rail reinstatement, the Limerick  to Foynes Road is central to this.”
“Ultimately, the new road will provide much-needed national port capacity, reduce freight congestion, shorten journey times, and support Ireland’s climate objectives. However, given the record volumes now being achieved at  Foynes, there is a clear opportunity, and necessity, to fast-track the full delivery of this route. The demand is here, the capacity is here, and the economic benefits are clear.”