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Prince Rupert port reports another record year

Container movement drops due to pandemic restrictions
DP World’s Fairview Container Terminal in Prince Rupert
DP World’s Fairview Container Terminal in Prince Rupert finished 6% down with 1,141,390 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) moving for 2020, a rebound after a 19% drop in container traffic in the second quarter

Despite pandemic challenges, B.C.’s northern Prince Rupert port saw a record year for cargoes in 2020 with 32.4 million tonnes moving through the port, 9% more than in 2019.

“In a year marred by uncertainty, the Port of Prince Rupert has facilitated increased trade in support of Canada’s economic health through the pandemic enabling over $50 billion in international trade,” Prince Rupert Port Authority president Shaun Stevenson said. “Weathering the storms triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, our port has handily proven its resiliency, efficiency and reliability as a key strategic trade gateway for Canada.”

Some 29.9 million tonnes of cargo moved through Prince Rupert in 2019, 12% more than 2018.

The 2020 increased volumes were led by a rise in coal, propane and wood pellets exports.

Significant drops were seen in logs, machinery, steel pipe, canola and oats.
Ridley Terminal saw a year-over-year increase of 26%, driven by thermal coal demand.

AltaGas’ Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal marked year one of operation in May 2020, ending the year with 1,159,207 tonnes loaded onto Asia-bound vessels.

Pinnacle Renewable Energy’s Westview Terminal exported 1,474,301 tonnes of wood pellets, an increase of 33% over 2019.

However, factory shutdowns in Asia and locked-down North American economies caused a 19% drop in container traffic in the second quarter.

However, volumes rebounded and DP World’s Fairview Container Terminal finished 6% down with 1,141,390 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) moving for the year.
The decrease is attributed mostly to a decline in the volume of empty containers being shipped back to Asia.

That’s in contrast to 2019 where the terminal saw movement of 1.2 million TEUs, an increase of 17% over 2018.

While cargo volumes grew in 2020, the passenger volume dropped precipitously with the cruise season cancellation and BC Ferries seeing a steep decline in ridership.

The port said pandemic obstacles have not slowed diversification projects.

Construction crews are nearing completion of the Fairview-Ridley Connector Corridor, a five-kilometre private road to reroute container trucks away from city streets and reduce truck emissions.

DP World received regulatory approval for the southern expansion of Fairview terminal planned to support a future capacity of 1.8 million TEUs.

Vopak Pacific Canada is expected to make a final investment decision on a new liquid bulk storage facility and marine berth on Ridley Island later this year; and the environmental assessment process began for the proposed Ridley Island Export Logistics Platform project to facilitate large-scale export transloading.

“By expanding trade enabling infrastructure, we will not only support our local economy, but will be poised to offer Canadian industries a competitive edge as the global economy rebounds from the effects of the pandemic,” Stevenson said.

Full cargo details can be found here.

jhainsworth@glaciermedia.ca

@jhainswo