THE Port of Vancouver saw cargo volumes rise 4
THE Port of Vancouver saw cargo volumes rise 4.4 per cent in the first half of the year to 72.1 million tonnes, compared to the same period a year earlier. First-half container shipments were up 1.6 per cent year on year to 13.2 million tonnes. In terms of volumes, container shipments rose 5.1 per cent 1.6 million TEU.
Vancouver Fraser Port Authority president Robin Sylvester said the results demonstrate the rising strength of the Canadian economy and the port's ability to handle the nation's increasing trade with Asia, reported American Shipper.
The port authority is striving to create new capacity on the back of expectations that Canada's west coast container ports will be full by mid-2020.
'We are partnering with our existing container terminals to expand and improve their operations but even with these improvements further capacity will be required, highlighting the need for the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project, a proposed new three-berth container terminal that would provide the space needed to meet forecasted demand for trade of goods in containers,' Mr Sylvester said.
Dry bulk shipments comprised half the tonnage that moved through the port during the first six months of the year at 44 million tons, up 0.7 per cent year on year.
The port also handled 5.8 million tons of liquid bulk and 8.9 million tons of break bulk over the reporting period, up 28.3 per cent and 15.4 per cent year on year, respectively.
