More than five million tonnes of grain were shipped through the northern British Columbia port of Prince Rupert, the most since 1994.
Statistics released by the Prince Rupert Port Authority indicate grain shipments during the year ending Dec. 31, 2009, totalled 5.08 million tonnes, up by 35 percent from the previous year.
Wheat led the way, at 4.64 million tonnes, up by 56 percent from 2008.
That more than offset declines in shipments of barley, canola and grain pellets.
Ironically, as Prince Rupert Grain Ltd. was recording its highest volume since 1994, Jeff Burghardt, the company’s president and chief executive officer since 1993, left his position Dec. 16.
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Nick Fox, vice-president of terminals for Viterra, a part owner of PRG, has taken over the day-to-day operation of the company until a new president and CEO is hired.
Grain shipments out of PRG represented 42 percent of total cargo shipments out of the port. Coal was second at 4.16 million tonnes, down 14 percent from last year.
The Fairview container terminal handled 265,269 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in 2009, a 46 percent increase over 2008, despite the global economic downturn.
Don Krusel, president and CEO of Prince Rupert Port Authority, said the coming year will focus on increasing container shipments and continuing with the expansion of the Fairview container terminal.
