Manifests Ireland Files 2 Million Annual Declarations on Descartes Platform

Descartes Systems (DSG.TO ) Group announced on October 1, 2026, that customs brokerage Manifests Ireland has increased its annual customs declaration volumes from approximately 20,000 before Brexit in 2020 to 2 million. The Dublin-based company scaled its operations on the Descartes Thyme customs platform through a long-term collaboration between the two organizations, according to a Descartes announcement datelined London, UK and Atlanta, Georgia. Descartes, described in the release as the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol DSGX and on the TSX under DSG.

“Growth creates opportunities, but it also places new demands on your business,” said Derek Dunne, Managing Director at Manifests Ireland. As declaration volumes grew and customs requirements became more complex, he said, automation helped the brokerage work faster and with greater accuracy and visibility. Dunne credited the Thyme platform with giving the company confidence to scale while maintaining the compliance and service its clients expect, and pointed to a long-standing relationship with Descartes built on trust and an understanding of its business.

The Thyme Platform and Declaration Processing

Descartes Thyme is a web-based platform that integrates with Irish Revenue’s Automated Import System (AIS) and Automated Export System (AES), enabling customers to create, submit and track declarations through a single solution. Support for individual and bulk submissions allows businesses to process growing declaration volumes and make use of data already held within their operations, according to Descartes. The broader suite also covers transit declarations, pre-boarding notifications and goods vehicle movements. The company characterizes the platform as helping Manifests Ireland automate key processes, reduce manual intervention, minimise errors and improve team efficiency.

Descartes’ customs compliance software documentation describes a platform for managing declaration and security filing submissions, designed for freight forwarders and customs brokers. Documented capabilities include a white-labelled customer portal with automated email notifications, a duty and tax database, and electronic record keeping with an audit trail.

The cooperation between the two companies extended beyond software. It included support through major customs modernisation initiatives and regulatory changes, among them the implementation of the AIS, AES and NCTS systems. Customs declaration volumes increased dramatically in the period following Brexit, the release states, and Descartes helped Manifests Ireland absorb that growth while maintaining operational efficiency, compliance and service continuity. The brokerage consistently embraced new requirements early, helping ensure smooth transitions and uninterrupted service for customers.

The Brokerage and a Two-Decade Relationship

Manifests Ireland’s website states that the company was formed in 2010 as a joint venture between Conway Shipping, Doyle Shipping Group and Manifests Ireland, and that it operates a Centre of Excellence at Dublin Port, which it identifies as Ireland’s largest port. Dunne has been involved in customs declarations for more than 30 years and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and a Council Member of the Irish International Freight Association, according to the company. Its services include electronic import and export declarations for the UK and Ireland, as well as PBN and ENS security declarations.

In published guidance for customers, the brokerage explains that a PBN, or Pre Boarding Notification, is issued by Revenue’s RoRo system and contains the MRN, the unique customs number covering the declarations of all goods on board a trailer. Without the PBN, a driver cannot access the freight terminal in the UK to board the ferry. The guidance also states that goods moving between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland do not require customs declarations following Brexit.

Dunne described customs brokerage as a people-driven business and said the continuity of the Descartes relationship has stood out throughout the company’s growth, citing staff who understand its business, respond quickly when support is needed and collaborate closely as regulations and requirements evolve.

James Stafford, Divisional Director, LSP EMEA at Descartes, called the growth from approximately 20,000 to 2 million declarations per year an impressive achievement and a testament to Manifests Ireland’s expertise and commitment to customer service. “For more than two decades, our teams have worked closely together to help the company adapt to changing customs requirements, improve operational efficiency and support international expansion across Europe,” Stafford said.

Manifests Ireland, having established a presence in Ireland and the UK, is now actively exploring opportunities across mainland Europe, according to the announcement. Dunne said the brokerage is increasingly supporting customers with cross-border trade requirements beyond Ireland, and that having a partner with global reach, proven technology and ongoing investment in compliance becomes more important as it enters new markets.