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Activity at Canadian ports and marine terminals grew by 3.7% in 2005 compared to relatively slower growth in 2004. This was mainly because of increased shipments of crude petroleum, iron ores and concentrates and coal. Nationally, real GDP growth was stable at 2.9% during 2005 ¹  . Despite experiencing the most rapid exchange rate appreciation in our history during the period 2003 to 2005 coupled with rise in commodity prices, the nominal value of total merchandise trade rose 6.2% in 2005. International trade in goods with the United States grew 4.6% to $628.3 billion mainly due to higher exports. It gained 11.3% to $212.9 billion with the rest of the world ²  mainly because of more imports. Higher merchandise trade during the year may generate more activity at Canada’s ports and marine terminals.

Cargo handled at Canadian ports continued to set new records rising 3.7% to 470.1 million metric tonnes (Mt) in 2005, compared to 453.3Mt in 2004. International cargo (between Canadian and foreign ports) handled increased for the third consecutive year, up 5.0% to 330.9Mt in 2005 from 315.1Mt last year. In comparison, the amount of domestic cargo (between two Canadian ports) handled edged up 0.7% to 139.1Mt in 2005. ³ 

International marine cargo

Increases in both inbound and outbound shipments contributed to the higher volume of international cargo handled at Canadian ports during the year. Ports and marine terminals loaded 201.8Mt of international cargo in 2005, up 2.9% from 196.0Mt in 2004. Increased outbound shipments of iron ores and concentrates, coal and logs and other wood in the rough contributed to the rise. In addition, increases in the incoming volume of crude petroleum, gasoline and aviation turbine fuel and coal resulted in the country’s ports unloading 129.2Mt of international cargo in 2005 up 8.5% from 119.0Mt the previous year.

Container Traffic

International container traffic, both in terms of volume and tonnage, handled by Canadian ports and marine terminals, continued to grow in 2005. During the year, Canadian ports handled 3.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), up 3.3% from 3.7 million TEUs in 2004. Containerized cargo went up 2.1% to 31.9Mt in 2005 from 31.2Mt the previous year. A stable international outbound containerized tonnage coupled with increased inbound traffic took the activity to a new height. Containerized shipments to and from ports in Asia, up 2.9%, led the way followed by European region, up 1.2%. Together, these regions combined to account for more than 90.0% of the total international containerized shipments.

Canada – United States cargo

After virtually no growth in 2004, total shipments to and from the United States grew 4.3% to 128.7Mt in 2005, the highest level since 1990, accounting for 38.9% of the total international shipments handled by the Canadian marine system. Crude petroleum, coal, metallic ores, gravel and crushed stone, aviation and turbine fuel and fuel oils were the main contributing commodities. Shipments coming from the Great Lakes region of the United States accounted for 76.0% of the total inbound tonnage from the United States, whereas 63.5% of the tonnage heading to the United States went to the Atlantic and Gulf region.

Inbound shipments from the United States advanced 8.3% to 42.9Mt in 2005 from 39.6Mt in 2004. Increased inbound tonnage from the United States was led by iron ores and concentrates that rose 19.8% to 7.8Mt in 2005. Coal, the primary commodity which accounted for 39.8% of the total inbound tonnage from the United States, also experienced growth this year after falling in 2004. Gasoline and aviation turbine fuel and limestone also contributed to the rise in inbound shipments, going up 34.5% and 22.5%, respectively.

Outbound shipments destined for the United States grew 2.4% (up 2.0Mt) to reach 85.8Mt in 2005. Continuing to lead the upward trend in outbound shipments to the United States were shipments of crude petroleum which grew 4.5 % to hit 23.5Mt in 2005. ⁴  In addition, increased shipments of logs and other wood in the rough (up 1.0Mt), other refined petroleum and coal products (up 0.8Mt) and other non-metallic minerals (up 0.3Mt) were more than enough to offset declines in shipments of other commodities including stone, sand, gravel and crushed stone (down 0.4Mt), fuel oils (down 0.3Mt), gasoline and aviation turbine fuel (down 0.3Mt) and cement (down 0.2Mt).

The share of the Canada – United States cargo handled by Canadian flagged vessels dropped to 39.6% in 2005 from 43.0% in 2004. In contrast, the share of United States-flag vessels rose to 13.1% from 10.8% over the same period. Foreign-flag ships carried the remaining cargo and their share also increased to 47.3% in 2005 from 46.2% in 2004.

Although Canada-flag ships handled most of the cargo (79.6%) in the United States Great Lakes region, their share has been decreasing over time. Cargo handled by Canadian flagged ships in the Pacific region of the United States grew to 30.8% in 2005 from 29.8% in 2004. On the other hand, foreign-flag ships continued to dominate shipping activity between Canadian ports and the Atlantic and Gulf region of the United States during 2005.

Canada – Overseas cargo

2005 represents the third consecutive year of increases in overseas cargo handled at Canadian ports. This follows two years of declines in 2001 and 2002. Total cargo shipped to Canada from overseas ports rose 5.5% to 202.3Mt in 2005 from 191.7Mt in 2004.

Total inbound shipments from overseas ports grew 8.6% to 86.3Mt in 2005 on the strength of increased inflow of crude petroleum. Higher inflow of crude petroleum from ports in Africa and the Middle East were more than sufficient to offset a decline from European sources. Other commodities that contributed to the rise in arrivals from overseas ports include: gasoline and aviation turbine fuel (up 47.4%), iron ores and concentrates (up 34.0%) and coal (up 11.4%).

Outbound overseas shipments gained 3.3% to 116.0Mt in 2005. Iron ores and concentrates, one of the major contributors to the increased overseas shipments, rebounded 12% (up 2.1Mt) due to the resolution of prolonged labour disputes at the Iron Ore Company of Canada and Wabush Mines during the year. Asia emerged as a more important destination for iron ores and concentrates as shipments to ports in that region increased 41.5% in 2005. At the same time, shipments to Europe remained steady at 11.8Mt in 2005 after posting a decline the previous year. An upswing in coal shipments also contributed to the growth in overseas tonnage, increasing 5.4% to 25.8Mt in 2005. Grains ⁵  shipped to the overseas ports during 2005 rose 4.0% to reach 18.6Mt.

The share of cargo shipped between Canadian and overseas ports handled by Canadian flagged vessels slipped to 0.03% in 2005 from 0.1% in 2004. Vessels registered in Panama (21.1%), Greece (11.3%), Liberia (8.9%) and Hong Kong (8.6%) continued to handle significant portions of the overseas cargo.

Domestic Cargo

Canadian ports and terminals handled 139.2Mt of domestic cargo in 2005, up slightly from 138.2Mt in 2004. The largest gain was registered by shipments of stone, sand, gravel and crushed stones which rose by 1.3Mt to 8.2Mt. In addition, shipments of logs and other wood in the rough rose for a second consecutive year. They increased by 1.1Mt to 9.2Mt in 2005.

In contrast, iron ores and concentrates dropped to 9.2Mt in 2005 from 10.9Mt in 2004. The bulk of the decline is a reflection of the impact of a series of labour disputes which affected production at several of the country’s iron ore mines over the two year period. A partial recovery in loadings occurred at Sept-Îles (up 0.5Mt) which followed the resolution of strikes at both the Iron Ore Company of Canada and Wabush Mines. However, these gains were insufficient to offset the decline in outbound shipments from Port-Cartier (down 1.3Mt) caused by the work stoppage at the Québec Cartier Mining Co. Other commodities which experienced decreases in tonnage handled were fuel oils (down 1.0Mt), wood chips (down 0.5Mt) and coal (down 0.4Mt).

Activity in the Atlantic region remained slow for a second consecutive year, although the drop in shipments during 2005 (down 0.7Mt) was smaller than that observed in 2004 (down 3.3Mt). Shipments of the region’s largest commodity, by weight, crude petroleum, fell by 0.2Mt. Other commodities which contributed to the decline were: fuel oils (down 0.4Mt), salt (down 0.2Mt) and gasoline and aviation turbine fuel (down 0.2Mt).

The level of shipments in the Great Lakes region remained steady at 30.9Mt in 2005 after a rebound in 2004. Gains made in the shipment of stone, sand, gravel and crushed stone (up 0.4Mt), wheat and limestone (up 0.3Mt each) were offset by declines in the tonnage of fuel oils (down 0.4Mt), iron ores and concentrates (down 0.4Mt) and coal (down 0.2Mt).

Shipments in the Pacific region rose by 1.0Mt to 33.8Mt in 2005. Shipments of logs and other wood in the rough (up 1.1Mt) and stone, sand, gravel and crushed stone (up 0.7Mt) were the driving force. However, a decline in the volume of wood chips ⁶  handled (down 0.7Mt) slowed the growth of marine shipments in this region.

Canadian port traffic

Total cargo handled by Canadian Port Authorities ⁷  (CPAs) edged up in 2005. The share of marine shipments (both domestic and international) handled by CPAs accounted for 53.2% of total activity, up from 52.5% in 2004.

Shipments of goods from the Port of Vancouver were 78.3Mt in 2005, up 4.6% from last year. However, this was a marked slowdown from the growth rate of 10.2% observed in 2004. Shipments of grains continued to lead the overall growth in cargo, rising 0.9Mt to 9.5Mt in 2005. Increased shipments of barley and colza seeds (canola) were partly offset by declines in the volume of wheat, rye, oats and other cereal grains. In addition, the tonnage of coal, the port’s primary commodity, ⁸  rose 3.0% to 25.1Mt in 2005 from 24.4Mt in 2004. Shipments of sulphur (down 3.6%), lumber (down 9.5%), wood pulp (down 5.0%) and potash (down 1.2%) fell back in 2005. Sulphur and potash had posted strong gains in 2004.

The Port of Vancouver alone handled 46.4% of the nation’s container traffic. The number of containers handled at the port continued to break records, rising 6.2% to 1,768,000 TEUs in 2005. Led by higher inbound shipments, the total tonnage of containerized cargo rose 2.6% to 13.6Mt in 2005. The rise was partially offset by a decline in the outbound shipments of containerized lumber and wood pulp.

The cargo handled at the Port of Saint John, New Brunswick, grew 4.6% to 27.4Mt in 2005, compared to the previous year. Shipments of crude petroleum rose 1.0Mt to reach 14.1Mt in 2005, primarily due to an increase in domestic tonnage handled. Other commodities that contributed to the overall rise in activity at the port include: other refined petroleum and coal products and gasoline and aviation turbine fuel. A decline in the tonnage of wood pulp (down 0.3Mt to 0.1Mt), due to the closure of the Nackawic mill, considerably offset these gains. In addition, the amount of potash shipped to international destinations fell 0.1Mt to 0.6Mt.

Total cargo handled at the port of Montréal/Contrecoeur rose 3.7% to 24.1Mt in 2005. Gasoline and aviation turbine fuel contributed to the rise. It increased 1.4Mt to reach 3.9Mt in 2005, driven by higher volumes received from international sources. In contrast, decreased domestic arrivals of iron ores and concentrates and lower international shipments of machinery and other basic chemicals partially offset the gains.

Total shipments at Québec (including Lévis) hit a new record in 2005, rising 5.1% to 22.8Mt. Crude petroleum received from international ports went up 7.8% during the year. Also contributing to the growth in international activity were higher volumes of petroleum products ⁹  and iron ores and concentrates. Counterbalancing these gains were declines in domestic shipments of crude petroleum, wheat, metallic waste and scrap, other refined petroleum and coal products and coal coke and petroleum coke.

The tonnage handled at Sept-Îles (including Pointe-Noire) climbed sharply by 5.2Mt to 22.2Mt in 2005, due to increased shipments of the port’s primary commodities iron ores and concentrates. Settlements of prolonged labour disputes at two of the region’s three iron ore mining operations were responsible for the resurgence in activity.

Fraser River Port handled slightly lower volumes of cargo (down 0.6Mt) totaling 14.2Mt during 2005. Activity at the port fell primarily due to a sharp decline in domestic shipments of wood chips coupled with reduced tonnages of both wood pulp and iron and steel (primary or semi-finished) shipped internationally. The rise in the amount of logs and other wood in the rough and stone sand gravel and crushed stones was not enough to offset these declines.

The amount of cargo handled at the port of Halifax edged down 0.4% to 14.2Mt. Activity at the port declined primarily due to lower shipments of fuel oils (down 0.5Mt). Other commodities which contributed to the drop were crude petroleum and logs and other wood in the rough. These declines were partially offset by gains in the tonnages of gasoline and aviation turbine fuel and wheat (each up by 0.1Mt) handled at the port. In addition, gains were also observed in the shipments of meat, fish, seafood and preparations and vehicles and parts and accessories.

At the port of Hamilton, shipments increased by 2.3% to reach 12.2Mt in 2005 on the strength of higher levels of international shipments. This marked a second straight annual increase in the total tonnage handled at the port. International shipments rose due to higher volumes of iron ores and concentrates, iron and steel – primary or semi-finished and fertilizers (excluding potash). There was a decline in the inbound volume of coal. Increased inflow of iron ores and concentrates from Sept-Îles was not enough to offset the declines from Port-Cartier, resulting in lower domestic activity.

The tonnage handled at the port of Thunder Bay dropped by 4.2% to 8.1Mt in 2005. Decreased shipments of wheat (down 7.1%), coal (down 22.4%) and potash (down 21.5%) during the year contributed to the decline. Increased tonnages of colza seeds (canola) and feed, cereal straw, eggs and other animal products were not enough to mitigate the adverse impact of the declines.

Shipments at the North Arm Fraser River port rebounded in 2005 after declining for two consecutive years. Activity at the port rose 0.5Mt to reach 5.2Mt. All tonnage handled at the port was shipped domestically. Gains in shipments were registered for each of the port’s major commodities: logs and other wood in the rough, wood chips and stone, sand, gravel and crushed stone. The North Arm Fraser River is the major port for tugs and barges and log boom traffic on the Pacific coast. Some of this cargo is loaded and unloaded within the port while some of it is transported through the port to other points on the Fraser River. There are significant differences between the statistics reported by the North Arm Fraser Port Authority and this publication. ¹⁰ 

The recovery in cargo handled at the port of Windsor (Ontario) noted in 2004 continued into 2005. Shipments at the port rose 0.3Mt to 5.2Mt. Increased tonnage of limestone received from foreign ports (up 0.7Mt to 1.7Mt) accounted for almost all of the gain. Partially counterbalancing this increase were declines in shipments of salt destined for the United States-Great Lakes region.

The cargo handled at the port of Prince Rupert held steady at 4.4Mt, virtually unchanged from the levels reported in 2004. All traffic going through the port is almost one-way: exports leaving the country. After a one year absence, coal shipments from the port resumed (0.6Mt) in 2005 thanks to the opening of Western Canadian Coal Corporation’s Dillon mine. Most notable among those commodities experiencing declines were iron ores and concentrates (down 0.3Mt), coal coke and petroleum coke (down 0.2Mt) and wheat (down 0.1Mt).

The level of shipments at Trois Rivières rose for a second consecutive year, increasing 0.1Mt to reach 2.5Mt in 2005. The growth in tonnage was a result of increases in both domestic and international shipments. Strong gains were posted in shipments of a number of commodities including, other non-ferrous metal (primary or semi-finished), other non-metallic minerals, metallic waste and scrap, wood chips, other oil seeds and nuts and other agriculture products and wheat. The overall impact of these increases was tempered by the sharp reduction in transshipments ¹¹  of sugar which dropped sharply -91.6% falling 0.3Mt. In addition, salt (down 49.8%) and alumina (down 8.8%) also contributed to the decline.

The amount of cargo handled at the port of Nanaimo rose 0.1Mt (up 5.5%) to 2.3Mt in 2005. Both domestic and international shipments contributed to the rise. Domestic shipments of wood chips increased for the second straight year. They grew 9.6% to 1.0Mt in 2005. Increases in tonnage of international cargo resulted from a rise in shipments of logs and other wood in the rough (up 0.1Mt) and other non-metallic minerals. These were partially offset by declines in shipments of wood chips, wood pulp and lumber.

Total shipments at Belledune rose slightly, 0.1Mt to 2.2Mt in 2005 after experiencing a decline the year previous. Supporting the increase were higher international inbound shipments of coal (up 0.2Mt) and coal coke and petroleum coke (up 0.1Mt). These gains were partially offset by decreases in the amount of other metallic ores and concentrates (down 0.2Mt) destined for foreign ports.

Total tonnage handled at Toronto continued to remain at 2.0Mt in 2005 which represented the highest level of shipments since 1980. International cargo which first began to decrease in 2001 slipped a further 0.1Mt due to an absence of shipments of iron and steel - primary or semi-finished. The overall tonnage handled at the port was sustained by an upswing in domestic shipments of coal ¹²  and stone, sand, gravel and crushed stone and salt.

At St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, the total tonnage handled fell back to 1.4Mt in 2005 from the record level posted in 2004. Both domestic and international shipments contributed to the drop in activity. Fuel oils and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages shipped to other ports in the country declined by 0.1Mt each in 2005. In addition, total international shipments were also reduced by 0.1Mt during the year.

Shipments handled at the port of Port Alberni rose 0.4Mt to 1.2Mt in 2005. Logs and other wood in the rough, the port’s primary commodity, shipped domestically (up 0.3Mt) and internationally (up 0.1Mt) drove activity at the port. International shipments of lumber decreased in 2005 after posting a rise in 2004.

Total cargo handled at Saguenay Port (Chicoutimi) dropped for the second consecutive year. Total tonnage fell sharply, 23.1% to 300 kilotonnes, in 2005 due to reductions in both domestic and international shipments. Decreases in the domestic tonnage of salt coupled with similarly strong declines in international shipments of wood pulp and stone, sand, gravel and crushed stones were principally responsible for the reduction in tonnage.