Vancouver: Port of Vancouver cargo totaled 72.8 million tonnes in 2001, down only 5 per cent from last years record tonnage, according to figures released today by the Vancouver Port Authority (VPA).

"Everyone at Canada's largest port has worked very hard to meet recent challenges, and we are proud that our gateway is viewed by the world's largest shipping lines as an efficient place to do business," said David Stowe, Chairman, Vancouver Port Authority.

"Our container numbers, in particular, reflect continued consumer demand in Canada and have helped to offset recent losses in other port business sectors," said Stowe. Total container traffic decreased 1 per cent to 1.15 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units). Total inbound TEUs grew 1 per cent to 551,195 TEUs. However, full import container traffic grew a healthy 7 per cent to 494,229 TEUs. The Port of Vancouver continued to increase its market share throughout 2001 and ranks number one in the Pacific Northwest and number 3 on the North American West Coast for full foreign containers. Total export TEUs, meanwhile, dipped 4 per cent to 595,382 with full exports decreasing 2 per cent to 539,896 TEUs. Continued soft demand in Asia accounted for the decline.

"The Port of Vancouver continues to be buoyant in the face of current market uncertainties and, in turn, will continue to drive significant economic benefits for the city, region and country in the form of jobs, taxes and other revenue," said Captain Gordon Houston, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vancouver Port Authority. "Competitiveness is what our business is built upon, and in 2002 we will sharpen our edge with improved facilities and services."

Total forest products shipments declined 13 per cent to 7.2 million tonnes due to weak Asian demand. Shipments of lumber closed down 14 per cent to 1.8 million tonnes. Wood pulp volumes staged a comeback in the second half of the year, ending with a 3 per cent decline to 3.6 million tonnes, recovering slightly from midyear.

In the dry bulk sector, total dry bulk shipments declined 6 per cent to 52.9 million tonnes. Shipments of coal, the Port of Vancouvers single largest commodity, were down 1 per cent from last years solid performance to 27.2 million tonnes. "Balanced supply and demand coupled with efforts by the coal industry to diversify selling to Europe and South America sustained shipments this year," said Houston. Total shipments of grain, meanwhile, were off 10 per cent with 11.6 million tonnes shipped. Wheat saw a decline of 14 per cent to 7.3 million tonnes due to a poor harvest and low prices. Shipments of canola grew 1 per cent to 3.4 million tonnes.

Liquid bulk gained 1 per cent with 6.3 million tonnes shipped. Petroleum shipments saw a gain of 15 per cent with 3.6 million tonnes shipped. However, total chemical volumes were down 11 per cent with 2.3 million tonnes shipped.

Last year was the 19th consecutive season of growth in the cruise industry. In 2001, there were 331 sailings and a record 1,060,383 revenue passengers, a 1 per cent increase over 2000.

The Port of Vancouver is Canada's largest and most diversified port, trading more than $29 billion in goods with more than 90 nations. Port activities generate 62,000 jobs in total with $1.6 billion in Gross Domestic Product and $3.5 billion in economic output.

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For more information, please contact:

Anne McMullin,
Director, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
Vancouver Port Authority
(604) 665-9069 (office)
(604) 665-9073 (fax)
(604) 218-1403 (cellular)
anne.mcmullin@portvancouver.com

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