One of Ireland’s leading international haulage operators is calling for “a sensible open discussion” on price increases which come into force at Dublin Port in January.

It has been widely reported that there will be a 5% increase in the price of dropping trailers and as well as a new €15.00 infrastructure charge.

Witing on its LinkedIn page, Virginia International Logistics says the new charges will “lead to immediate increases for hauliers, and in turn shippers.”

Earlier in the month the Irish Road Haulage Association accused Dublin Port of introducing new ‘hidden tariffs’ on Irish goods coming into and out of Ireland, that will push up the price of food, fuel and construction materials.

IRHA President, Ger Hyland slammed management at Dublin Port for imposing a range of new charges that he claimed would lead to higher supermarket prices, higher fuel prices and higher construction material prices.

Mr. Hyland said the moves put Ireland’s competitiveness and ability to compete on the international stage in jeopardy.

In response Dublin Port Company said: Dublin Port Company has finalised its pricing framework for 2026–2030 to support the next phase of Masterplan 2040. The dual impact of construction inflation combined with the commencement of the second project of Masterplan 2040, i.e. MP2, has resulted in the requirement for a significant increase in both market pricing and borrowings. Average annual capital investment is set to increase from €65m (2015–2024) to approximately €170m between 2025 and 2030. Continued investment at this scale is essential to maintain capacity and resilience at a Port that already facilitates €165bn of trade each year.

Following consultation with our customers, the updated Port charges, including the introduction of an infrastructure levy from 2026, are necessary to fund this investment and ensure Dublin Port can continue to support Ireland’s trade and economic growth. While we recognise that the increase presents challenges for customers, the changes should be viewed against the substantial economic value the Port enables, and they are not expected to have an inflationary impact. We remain committed to engaging with stakeholders as the implementation phase begins.”