Supply Chain Under Pressure: What Irish Exporters Need to Watch Now

In this episode of Interlinks, Patrick Daly is joined by Howard Knott, Project Director at the Irish Exporters Association, for a timely and practical conversation on the shifting realities of freight, ports, and supply chains in Ireland and beyond.

Howard brings deep sector knowledge to a discussion that moves from the macro forces reshaping global trade to the operational implications for exporters, logistics providers, and supply chain leaders on the ground. Together, Patrick and Howard examine how a new era of persistent volatility — from geopolitical tension in the Gulf to post-Brexit route reconfiguration and infrastructure bottlenecks at home — is becoming the new baseline for logistics planning.

The conversation explores the current state of rail freight and port connectivity in Ireland, including developments at Foynes, Waterford, and Dublin Port, and what they mean for the future of inland distribution, regional export capability, and modal shift. They also discuss the continued growth of lift-on/lift-off and unaccompanied trailer services, the changing economics of freight transport, the role of technology in improving visibility and reliability, and the structural constraints posed by driver shortages and port congestion.

Patrick and Howard also place these developments in a wider strategic context: the relationship between resilience, decarbonisation, infrastructure investment, and national competitiveness. From the green agenda and energy transition to the strategic importance of transport diversification, this episode highlights how seemingly technical freight decisions are increasingly tied to broader questions of economic security, supply chain resilience, and long-term industrial strategy.

This is a conversation for leaders who want to understand how global disruption translates into local operational choices — and why transport networks, port capacity, and logistics design now sit at the heart of macro-to-micro strategy.

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