Vancouver, B.C., Sept. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Port of Vancouver moved record volumes of Canadian trade in the first six months of 2025, delivering vast quantities of made-in-Canada grain, energy and fertilizer exports to diverse world markets against a challenging geopolitical backdrop.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The port\u2019s mid-year cargo statistics show a 13% increase in cargo moved between January and June 2025, compared to the same six-month period last year\u2014with a record of more than 85 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo handled. Port of Vancouver terminals handled nearly 20% more international trade than a year ago, as surging exports of Canadian crude, canola oil, grain, potash and coal to markets worldwide. Containerized trade over the first half of 2025 remained steady, while cruise and auto volumes eased following record performances in 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCanadians and their businesses depend on the Port of Vancouver to buy and sell the products they manufacture, farm, mine and stock their shelves with,\u201d said Peter Xotta, President and CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs Canadians navigate a moment in time like no other, I want to acknowledge the port community and our supply chain partners for rising to the occasion and moving record trade volumes so far this year. The Port of Vancouver has a critical role to play in meeting the moment as Canadian businesses seek to sell more of their products to more customers outside of the U.S.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Port of Vancouver is Canada\u2019s largest and most diversified port\u2014already connecting Canada with more than 170 global economies and moving as much cargo as Canada\u2019s next five largest ports combined. More than 80% of the trade through the Port of Vancouver is Canadian trade with countries other than the U.S.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Moving Canadian c<\/strong>ommodit<\/strong>ies<\/strong> to <\/strong>new and <\/strong>growing <\/strong>markets<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Bulk exports of Canadian commodities were strong in the first half of the year, including record volumes of crude oil exports, and robust volumes of canola oil, grain and potash exports from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.\u00a0<\/p>\n Port operators also moved\u00a0near record volumes of bulk exports of Canadian grain, fertilizer (potash, sulphur) and coal. Grain was up 8% to reach its second highest half year on volumes on record (behind 2021), including wheat up 16% and canola seed up 12%. Increased volumes of canola seed went to Japan, while new markets such as Mexico, Netherlands, France, Bangladesh, Bulgaria helped offset the impact of Chinese tariffs.\u00a0<\/p>\n Potash was up 26% to reach its second highest half-year result on record after 2019 as the fertilizer product recovered from a slowdown in 2024, while sulphur was up 5% and coal down 2%.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFor decades, and prior to tariff threats, along with our partners we\u2019ve been working hard to grow trade capacity to meet demand. Today, our growth plans and partnerships are purpose built to help Canada rise to the occasion and get made-in-Canada products to more customers,\u201d said Xotta. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe all win when we work together. For example, we\u2019re using new tech and tools to facilitate thousands of ship movements a year\u2014allowing us to improve visibility in how goods are moving through the port, better coordinate with supply chain partners and add capacity. Our Active Vessel Traffic Management Program, combined with ongoing collaboration, has meant the port has been able to smoothly integrate Trans Mountain\u2019s expanded volumes over the past year while also enabling CN to increase rail service to the busy North Shore trade area by 10%.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Container sector <\/strong>stable, <\/strong>un<\/strong>affected by <\/strong>U.S.<\/strong> tariff <\/strong>slowdown<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The Port of Vancouver\u2019s four container terminals moved 1.88 million 20-foot equivalent units (or TEUs) at mid-2025, with mid-year volume growth of 6% driven largely by Canadian trade. It was the second highest volume of containers moved at mid-year, after 2021\u2019s record of 1.94 million TEU.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cContainerized trade\u2014like the Canadian economy\u2014has shown remarkable strength and resilience so far this year in the face of U.S. tariffs and global uncertainty,\u201d said Xotta.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMore and more, we are seeing Canadian businesses turn to containers to securely trade goods with world markets. With containerized trade through the port on a long-term growth trajectory, Roberts Bank Terminal 2 is uniquely positioned to deliver for Canada. We are advancing towards a final investment decision soon for the nation-building project, which will unlock an additional $100 billion a year in West Coast trade capacity and enable Canadian businesses to win even greater market share overseas.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Auto imports and cruise passenger visits ease from record years<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The Port of Vancouver\u2019s cruise sector had just over 130 cruise ship calls and 500,000 passenger visits between March 5 and June 30\u2014down compared to 2024\u2019s record-breaking year, but still strong as Canada Place cements itself as one of North America\u2019s premier homeports.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cCanada Place is now regularly seeing upwards of 300 cruise ship calls and 1.2 million passenger visits every year\u2014injecting around $1 billion into the economy and supporting jobs and local businesses throughout the region,\u201d said Xotta. \u201cWe are honoured to partner with countless cruise and destination partners to ensure Canada Place remains a premier homeport serving the popular Alaska market\u2014together we are making Vancouver cruise shine and creating jobs for Canadians.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Each cruise ship visit to the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver injects about $3 million into the local economy according to an Economic Impact Study released by the port authority in 2024.<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Auto volumes eased 3% to 241,000 units, down slightly compared to last year\u2019s record and the third highest volume for the port. Nearly 100% of Canada\u2019s Asian-manufactured vehicle imports arrive via the Port of Vancouver, with work to optimize the Annacis Auto Terminal<\/a> and increase its capacity by one-third being completed earlier this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n Foreign breakbulk volumes were down 8%, due to forestry exports continuing a trend towards containers and metal imports falling slightly. Domestic volumes\u2014largely comprised of local movements of logs, sand and gravel\u2014decreased.\u00a0<\/p>\n Significant investment <\/strong>being made <\/strong>in gateway\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The port authority continues to work closely with industry and government to plan and deliver investment in the gateway to boost reliability and capacity and ensure the port can continue to support Canadian businesses and their trade needs. This includes:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
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