NEWRY shipping firm Motis Ireland recorded a 10 per cent fall in turnover last year as it moved focus away from non-core activities.
The company's latest financials showed sales of £42.3 million in the year to June 2015, compared to £47.3m in the previous 12 months.
Bottom line profits however almost doubled reaching £1.66m from £885,213 in 2014.
The company operates across 500 freight ferry routes and serves more than 2,000 customers across Europe.
It was founded in 2002 by David McComb and Patrick Hutley and started as the preferred supplier for P&O shipping services from the UK to Europe.
The firm now covers the Irish Sea, English Channel, North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, Adriatic Sea as well as transport through the Alps, Mont Blanc and Frejus Tunnel.
In their strategic report filed with annual accounts at Companies House in Belfast, directors sales reduced "due to the cessation of non-core activities in the previous financial period".
However, they pointed out that turnover related Motis' core business had risen 5 per cent during the year.
Directors said they "consider the result for the year to be satisfactory given the increase in annualised turnover and operating profits attributable to the group's core business".
And they said despite "a very competitive marketplace", the group anticipates "that the current levels of performance will be maintained or improved upon in 2016".
The company started with five employees but according to its website now has a payroll of more than 80 across Europe.
According to notes with financial statements, the firm's wage bill, including directors' salaries, was slashed in 2015 to £2.3m from £3.16m the previous year.
In addition to the Newry head office, Motis has offices in Stoke-on-Trent in England and others in Prague, Czech Republic; Poznan, Poland, Vilnius, Lithuania and Bucharest, Romania.
The company also has truck parking facilities and 24-hour logistical services at the Port of Dover.
