Vancouver: The Port of Vancouver broke a new mid-year record in shipments of containers, posting 14 consecutive years of growth in full foreign containers, according to statistics released today by the Vancouver Port Authority (VPA). The Port of Vancouver also posted solid gains in forest products and potash while many other bulk commodities and the Port's cruise sector experienced declines.

"The strong continued growth in containers speaks to the role that the Port of Vancouver can continue to play in increasing jobs and building our economy in the future," said Captain Gordon Houston, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vancouver Port Authority. "With planned expansion at our container terminals, we have the ability to create thousands of new jobs and billions in new economic activity."

In the container sector, total container growth surged 16 per cent to 752,819 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) shipped. Strong North American consumer demand for Asian-produced goods continued to fuel increases in imports. Total laden imports increased 21 per cent to 346,749 TEUs. On the export side, total laden exports increased to 301,193 TEUs, a 3 per cent gain.

For the first time in 21 years, the Port of Vancouver's cruise sector experienced a decline. The number of revenue passengers decreased 19 per cent over the same period last year with 328,853 revenue passengers. At mid-year, the number of sailings decreased to 111, down from 123 sailings over the same period last year. Intense competition from the Port of Seattle and the loss of frequent, regularly scheduled Pacific Northwest cruises accounted for the decline. The cruise industry injects $508 million into the Canadian economy each year. Each sailing represents $1.5 million in economic benefits.

"With the erosion of business in our cruise sector and expansion required in our container sector, it is crucial that changes are made to the Canada Marine Act in order for the Port of Vancouver to remain competitive," said Houston. "At this moment, U.S. ports are making massive infrastructure investments that threaten our ability to compete both now and in the future."

Total shipments of forest products grew 3 per cent to 3.8 million tonnes. Wood pulp shipments remained even with last year with 2.1 million tonnes shipped. Higher shipments of wood pulp to China offset lower shipments elsewhere. Lumber shipments increased 11 per cent to 929,000 tonnes, due largely to higher export volumes in Japan, China and Taiwan.



Overall total tonnage at the Port declined 6 per cent to 31.6 million tonnes. Dry bulk shipments decreased 10 per cent to 20.6 million tonnes. Coal, the Port of Vancouver's largest single commodity, experienced a 4 per cent decline with 11.7 million tonnes shipped. The global economic slowdown, tough international competition, and damaged shiploaders during the first half of the year at one of the Port's coal terminals accounted for the decreases through the Port.



Total shipments of grain decreased 44 per cent to 2.2 million tonnes due to both poor weather conditions and the grain workers lockout, which ended December 2002. Grain exports during the lockout were diverted through Prince Rupert and it took the first few months in 2003 for the Port of Vancouver to see scheduled shipments come back through Vancouver. Poor weather conditions in 2002 resulting in low crop yields accounted for the decline in volumes. Shipments of wheat declined 60 per cent compared to the same period last year with 1.05 million tonnes shipped. Following are statistics for other bulk commodities:



Canola decreased 5 per cent to 980,000 tonnes

Potash climbed 7 per cent to 2.6 million tonnes

Sulphur shipments increased 1 per cent to 2.76 million tonnes

Liquid bulk shipments decreased 2 per cent with 3.2 million tonnes shipped

Total chemical shipments decreased 13 per cent to 1.2 million tonnes shipped

Petroleum products increased 6 per cent with 1.9 million tonnes shipped



The Port of Vancouver is Canada's largest and most diversified port, trading $29 billion in goods with more than 90 trading economies each year. In total, port activities generate 62,000 total jobs, $1.6 billion in Gross Domestic Product and $3.5 billion in economic output. Last year, 62.8 million tonnes were shipped through the Port of Vancouver.

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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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