Increases in container, grain sectors lead growth in 2009
February 2, 2010
The Port of Prince Rupert sailed safely through the global economic downturn, recording in 2009 its highest volume throughput in the past 12 years. The port handled 12.2 million tonnes of cargo last year, up 15 per cent over 2008.
The higher volumes in 2009 were not driven by one line of business. Rather, numbers were up in the container and grain sectors, the Prince Rupert Port Authority said.
Fairview Container Terminal handled 265,259 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) last year, up 45.8 per cent over 2008, despite the economic downturn that has resulted in declining container traffic through other North American West Coast ports.
Don Krusel, president and CEO of the Prince Rupert Port Authority, said the Fairview terminal, over its first two full years of operation, and CN’s North American network have provided shippers reliable, fast and cost-efficient service year round.
“We are confident that the Port of Prince Rupert and our partners, including CN, Maher Terminals, longshore workers and the shipping lines, have demonstrated the competitive advantages of the Port of Prince Rupert as a gateway for transpacific container trade,” Mr. Krusel said. “Our continued growth reflects the increasing confidence and satisfaction of our customers with the quality of service they are receiving through the Prince Rupert gateway.”
In the bulk sector, Prince Rupert Grain volumes jumped 35.1 per cent to 5.08 million tonnes, the terminal’s highest throughput since 1994. Wheat shipments, the core of PRG’s business, were up 55.8 per cent to 4.64 million tonnes, offsetting decreases in volumes of barley, canola and grain pellets.
Ridley Terminals Inc. experienced a surge in coal volumes in the second half 2009, following a weak first half, to push total traffic to 4.16 million tonnes, down 14.2 per cent compared to 2008. Overall metallurgical and thermal coal volumes declined 30.9 per cent to 2.84 million tonnes due to weak global demand. This decrease was significantly offset by strong increases in coking coal (up 110.5 per cent to 648,015 tonnes), petroleum coke (up 46.4 per cent to 524,726 tonnes) and wood pellets (up 108.7 per cent to 140,004 tonnes).
The Port of Prince Rupert also experienced increased cargo volumes for logs (up 79.6 per cent to 215,411 tonnes) and wax (up 30.8 per cent to 9,298 tonnes).
In the cruise business, passenger traffic was down 46.8 per cent as a result of the loss of a weekly vessel port of call in 2009. Prince Rupert welcomed 55,097 passengers over the course of 31 cruise ship visits last year, down from 103,630 passengers on 63 vessels in 2008, the port’s best year since becoming an Alaska cruise port of call in 2004.
Despite the decline in cruise ship traffic, the port authority said Prince Rupert is continuing to improve its cruise tourism capabilities to support future growth of the sector.
Looking ahead in 2010, Mr. Krusel said the port remains focused on increasing container volumes and furthering the progress of the Phase II expansion of Fairview Container Terminal.
A second priority is the development of Ridley Industrial Park to accommodate new terminal and logistic services to support the expansion of the Port of Prince Rupert.
“We have not only created a new trade corridor for transpacific container trade but also have drawn the attention of the shipping world and opened the door to a multitude of new investment and development opportunities,” Mr. Krusel said.