Strong grain exports softened the blow of a miserable year for Canada’s largest port.
“At the end of a challenging and turbulent year, we’re pleased to see gains in some principal Canadian exports, such as grain, specialty crops and crude petroleum,” Robin Silvester, president of Port Metro Vancouver, said in a news release.
The global recession slowed international trade for most commodities, leading to an 11 percent decline in tonnage handled by the port in 2009.
The exception was grain, special crops and feed, which increased 33 percent from 2008, setting a record of 18.1 million tonnes.
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“These record volumes resulted from high carryover from a very good 2008 harvest, a larger-than-expected 2009 harvest and very strong demand in Asia, South America and the Middle East,” the port said.
Canola shipments were up 38 percent, primarily because of strong sales to China before the Nov. 15 blackleg ban.
Wheat volumes also rose 38 percent, based on good demand from Latin America, South America and the Middle East.
Petroleum products are the only other commodity that experienced increased movement through the port. Chemicals, metals and minerals, coal, forest products, potash and sulfur handlings were all down.
Container volumes fell nearly 14 percent because of slumping imports. Stable demand for containerized forest products and special crops led to a one percent increase in outbound containers.
