Port of Vancouver volume up one per cent last year despite pandemic, supply, flooding

Amid the increase in container trade were an elevated number of empty containers, putting pressure on Canadian exporters as containers were rushed back to Asia to accommodate strong consumer demand in North America.

The port is warning that serious supply-chain problems will occur in a few years because west coast container terminals are expected to run out of capacity by the end of the decade.

“Vancouver’s port community met challenge after challenge in 2021 — sometimes working around the clock — to keep the port connected to national supply chains and goods flowing for Canadians,” stated Robin Silvester, president and CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the federal agency in charge of the Port of Vancouver.

General cargo increased 18 per cent with log volumes up 23 per cent, basic metals up 51 per cent and wood pulp down 10 per cent.

Bulk dry cargo increased one per cent with coal up 19 per cent, grain down 10 per cent, potash down 13 per cent and sulphur down 14 per cent. Bulk liquid tonnage fell 8 per cent due to a 30 per cent decrease in canola oil, a 12 per cent decrease in crude petroleum, and a 14 per cent decrease in chemicals.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2022.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Port of Vancouver volume up one per cent last year despite pandemic, supply, flooding

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