Ports de Normandie: Brexit Already Has An Impact On The Cross-Channel Ferry Traffic
Ports de Normandie is the organisation that groups the French ports of Cherbourg, Caen-Ouistreham and Dieppe.
Although Brexit did not happen (yet), the first five months of the year saw a freight increase of 6.5%, due to the constitution of stocks in the UK and some industrial actions by customs in the ports of Calais and Dunkerque.
Passenger traffic has seen an increase of 0.9% for the ferry lines to the UK, and 5.7% to Ireland. In spite of the small increase of 0.9%, it must be said that May was not a good month for passenger traffic from the UK. It seems obvious that Brexit has caused uncertainty.
Ireland traffic is much better. Especially the arrival of W.B. YEATS (in March on Dublin-Cherbourg) has boosted the passenger and cargo flows considerably, especially in May. Freight progressed with 12% over the first five months.
Each year some 1.7 million pax, some 500,000 cars and some 160,000 freight units get across the Channel via one of the three Ports of Normandie.
