VPA urges transportation investments as total cargo surges

Vancouver: Overall tonnage through the Port of Vancouver staged a dramatic comeback during the first six months of the year with total tonnage surging 16 per cent to 36.5 million tonnes, according to new statistics by the Vancouver Port Authority. The Port of Vancouver also reached a new mid-year record in the shipment of containers, continuing a streak of nearly 15 consecutive years of growth in the sector.

"The impressive growth the Port of Vancouver is experiencing underscores the urgent need to work together and plan for critical investments in our transportation gateway. We call on the Gateway Program, the provincial and federal governments and railways to work with us to help plan and finance transportation solutions," said Captain Gordon Houston, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vancouver Port Authority.

"It's our job to make sure that the goods shipped in and out of the Port of Vancouver move to market quickly, efficiently and reliably. Without investments in transportation infrastructure, our collective competitiveness as a gateway is compromised," said Houston.

Mid year statistics include:

Total container shipments increased seven per cent from 756,879 TEUs to a new record 809,456 TEUs. Full containerized import volumes grew seven per cent to 373,115 TEUs, while full containerized export volumes grew 16 per cent to 350,686 TEUs.

Grain shipments jumped 81 per cent to 4.1 million tonnes, with wheat rising 133 per cent to 2.5 million tonnes and canola increasing 17 per cent to 1.2 million tonnes.

Potash increased 23 per cent to 3.1 million tonnes.

Total dry bulk shipments increased 18 per cent to 24.4 million tonnes.

Coal, the Port of Vancouver's single largest commodity, rose 6 per cent to 12.3 million tonnes.

The cruise sector experienced a slight gain with an increase of 2 per cent in the number of revenue passengers due to a repositioning of cruise vessels to the beginning of the season. At mid-year, the number of sailings decreased to 104 from 111 sailings over the same period last year.

Sulphur increased 14 per cent to 3.2 million tonnes.

Liquid bulk shipments through the Port of Vancouver increased 11 per cent to 3.5 million tonnes.

Petroleum products increased 13.3 per cent to 1.6 million tonnes.

Shipments of forest products increased 11 per cent to 4.2 million tonnes. Lumber shipments increased 29 per cent to 1.2 million tonnes, while wood pulp shipments climbed 7 per cent to 2.2 million tonnes.

Total chemical volumes increased 10 per cent to 1.3 million tonnes shipped.

"With strong, committed partners and strategic investments in infrastructure, our gateway will be better poised to solidify its competitive position and generate economic benefits. We have a window of opportunity that we cannot afford to miss," said Houston.

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. Port activities generate 62,000 jobs in total with $1.6 billion in Gross Domestic Product and $3.5 billion in economic output. Last year, 66.7 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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