Cargo volumes totalled 8.5 million tonnes, about six percent lower than the port’s five-year average of 9.1 million tonnes
Another navigation season is in the books at the Port of Thunder Bay in Ontario.
The 2022 shipping season concluded Jan. 14 with the departure of MV Manitoulin, which was carrying a shipment of western Canadian wheat.
Total cargo volume at the northern Ontario port during the 2021 shipping season totalled about 8.5 million tonnes, about six percent lower than the port’s five-year average of 9.1 tonnes, the port authority said in a news release.
Despite a reduction in grain shipments caused by a drought-reduced harvest on the Prairies, the port experienced growth in most areas, demonstrating success in its diversification efforts, the port added.
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Non-grain cargo volumes at the port’s Keefer Terminal doubled in 2021, with shipments of steel products and phosphate fertilizer making significant year-over-year gains.
Cargo tonnages handled through Keefer were the highest in 20 years.
“Success in transporting general cargo, particularly valuable dimensional pieces, depends on safe and secure handling,” said Tim Heney, the port’s chief executive officer.
“Thunder Bay has developed a reputation as a trustworthy port, and this helps to generate new and repeat business,” he added.
Outbound potash shipments also increased significantly in 2021.
Exports of Canadian-mined potash through the port exceeded 600,000 tonnes for the first time since 2004. Potash shipped through Thunder Bay is usually bound for Europe.
Grain shipments, which typically account for roughly 85 percent of the port’s total cargo volumes, dropped significantly last year.
Seasonal grain tonnages for 2021 were listed at about 7.42 million tonnes, down more than 21 percent from 2020 volumes, which were more than 9.2 million tonnes.
Grain shipments in 2020 were the highest the port had seen in decades. Average annual grain shipments over the past five years were in the range of 7.8 million tonnes.
“With a probable return to more favourable crop conditions on the Prairies, port officials are optimistic for a stronger shipping season in 2022,” the port authority said.
“Further growth is anticipated in phosphate fertilizer shipments, which are imported for use by western Canadian grain farmers.”
Thunder Bay is not the only port to experience a downturn in grain shipments.
According to data from the federal grain monitoring program (GMP), crop year-to-date outbound grain shipments from western Canadian grain export terminals as of Dec. 31 were 37.6 percent lower in 2021-22 than they were in 2020-21.
That included a 38.2 percent reduction in outbound grain shipments through the Port of Vancouver and a 59 percent year-over-year reduction at Prince Rupert, B.C.
As of Dec. 31, western Canadian crop-year-to-date grain shipments by rail to all western Canadian ports were 40.4 percent lower than last year’s pace, shipments to Eastern Canada were down 38.3 percent, and shipments to the United States and Mexico were down 3.4 percent on a year-over-year basis.
Shipments of western Canadian grain by rail to western domestic destinations were 16.4 percent higher than last year.
