Omex, the liquid fertiliser supplier that has been offering its products in Ireland since 2016, has taken the next step up and opened a distribution centre for its products in Co. Cork.

Up until now the fertiliser had been brought across by road tanker from the UK, but from this week it will be distributed in Ireland from a new installation at Ringaskiddy, on the southern side of Cork Harbour.

Wednesday saw the official opening of the loading facility by Andrew Doyle, a distinguished member of the farming press who is now retired.

Although the site will be dedicated to distributing liquid fertiliser for Omex, it is owned and operated by UM Terminals, an offshoot of United Molasses which will continue to distribute Molasses from the same location.

There have been three tanks built to accommodate the liquid, each of 5,000m³ and it is intended that they will handle both straight nitrogen (N) fertilisers and a blend.

All of Ireland will be served from Cork, which was chosen because of its deep water berth that can handle ships with a draught of up to 12m.

The fertiliser is sourced from various locations including the US, Lithuania, and Poland and shipped via tanker to Cork before the vessel carries on to other Omex facilities in the UK.

Filling the road tankers for delivery is a quick and efficient operation with each loading taking around 25 minutes to complete, including the entry and exit from the port.

Both companies concerned remained tight-lipped about the scale of the investment involved, only saying that it is a leasing agreement and that the tanks were designed to last at least 50 years.

Despite being located in the very south of the country there will be no variation in delivery cost, and farmers can expect an expediated delivery time as the new system settles down.

Although not officially opened until Wednesday, March 5, 17 loads had already gone out with no major hitches and both Omex and UM Terminals were delighted with how well the system has worked so far.