LAMB and fish exporters to markets in France, Spain and Portugal, as well as the hauliers who transport the goods to and from these markets, are the companies worst affected by the French truckers' dispute.
As the dispute enters its 12th day, concern is increasing that a prolonged stand off could result in layoffs at Irish companies exporting to markets in France, Spain and Portugal.
Orders from French companies are being cancelled, according to Mr Colum McDonnell, of the Irish Exporters' Association. The association has called on the Government, through the European Union to seek free passage for transit traffic.
"The longer it is prolonged the worse its effects will be. It will do serious and permanent damage to Irish companies," said Mr McDonnell.
He called on the French truckers to allow transit drivers through their blockades. The dispute is an internal French affair and it should not be allowed to impact on companies in other European countries," he said. The IFA has advised Irish exporters to postpone road shipments to France where possible.
The strike is costing farmers and hauliers throughout Europe tens of millions of pounds per day. The timing of the strike, in the commercially crucial pre Christmas season, could not be worse. As early as next week, goods like oranges, grapes and cauliflowers are expected to be in short supply in shops throughout Europe.
France accounts for about 10 per cent of Irish exporters' sales, with annual sales this year expected to reach £3 billion. The dispute is costing exporters about £3 million a day in lost sales, Mr McDonnell said.
With about 400 Irish lorries stuck at road blocks or in ports in France, the Irish Road Hauliers' Association said last night that it will take haulage firms months to recover the losses. Mr Jimmy Quinn, president of the IRHA, estimated losses so far at about £2 million. Losses are running at £200,000 per day, he said, with smaller firms and owner operated trucks worst affected.
"Coming hot on the heels of the BSE crisis, which has had a bad effect on refrigerated hauliers because of the drop in the sales of chilled beef, it is a bad end to a very poor year," Mr Quinn said.
An "occasional" Irish driver had managed to get through the blockades and to the delivery point, he said. But some drivers who have got through have had their loads rejected by buyers because of the delays or because the road blocks are preventing distribution within France. "One driver who managed to get through to the fish market in Boulogne sur Mer had his cargo refused because the French buyers said they would not be able to distribute the fish in France", he added.