Record Year for Overall Cargo Movement Through the Port of Vancouver 

 

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority released the 2017 year-end statistics for cargo through the Port of Vancouver. Overall cargo volume through the port reached a record high of 142.1 million tons, up five percent from 2016. Sectors experiencing strong growth include containers and bulk grain, both of which hit new records in 2017.

 

Notably, overall container traffic (measured by TEUs or 20-foot equivalent units) saw a significant increase of 11 percent over 2016 to reach a record of 3.3 million TEUs, with loaded imports up by 11 percent. Volumes were driven by a global upswing in economic activity, which boosted Canadian export sales and overall strength in the transpacific container market.

 

Strong global demand for Canadian agriculture was met with a bumper harvest in Canada and increased exports of grain through the Port of Vancouver. Bulk grain saw another record year in 2017 at 23.6 million metric tonnes an eight percent increase over 2016, making this the Port of Vancouver’s fourth consecutive year of record grain volumes.

 

The auto sector saw a nine percent increase in 2017 from 2016, boosted by a record year for auto sales across Canada and an increase in consumer confidence. This is the third consecutive year of an upward trend in autos through the Port of Vancouver.

 

The breakbulk sector saw a two percent increase over 2016 due to strong woodpulp exports and increased movement of domestic consumer goods along the Fraser River and between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.

 

The cruise industry in Vancouver is experiencing stable growth as demand for cruises to Alaska continues to increase. In 2017, the port welcomed 236 cruise ships and 842,928 passengers compared to 826,820 passengers in 2016, an increase of two percent.