Challenging times for Vancouver

“Our cargo statistics for the first half of the year reflect the economy and the conditions faced by the world’s trading community,” said Robin Silvester, President and CEO, Port Metro Vancouver. “It has been challenging for us and for our customers. We are fortunate to be such a diversified port, which has allowed us to benefit from growth in certain areas.”

Total foreign tonnage declined 7.5% to 38.1m tonnes, buffered by increases in export grain and petroleum products. Total domestic tonnage decreased 38% to 10.7m tonnes, reflecting reduced domestic construction and decreases in logs, sand and gravel, and forest products.

Fertilizer exports experienced the largest reduction from last year, down 52%; coal exports decreased by 13%, forest products fell to 9.4m tonnes, chemical, metals and minerals sector fell sharply by 41% to 4.9m tonnes and container volumes declined 15%, to 1.04m teu. Containerised full imports were down 25% and laden container exports decreased 8%.