Canada's west coast ports struggle, but Prince Rupert box volume up 33%
The west coast Canadian Port of Prince Rupert enjoyed an August throughput growth of 33.46 per cent to 43,418 TEU year on year, attributed to a surge in trade between Asia as a cost alternative to other ports, Shippingazette reported.
Compared to the other west coast ports which deal with higher volumes than Prince Rupert, Seattle's volumes declined between May to July by 14.6 per cent year on year while Vancouver's average increased slightly by 0.97 per cent in the same period.
Prince Rupert Port Authority's vice president Shaun Stevenson said trade for British Columbia exports and in particular forest products for Asia-Pacific has increased: "Ultimately, in these economic times, shippers are looking to tighten their supply chains and create great efficiencies and Prince Rupert offers a way to do that."
In August, imports saw a year-on-year increase of 28.5 per cent to 24,724 TEU but a drop from month previous of 1,300 TEU. Loaded exports increased 58.01 per cen but still less than the previous month. Empties increased month on month by 845 TEU and by 26.8 per cent to 9,401.5 TEU year on year.
The Ridley bulk terminal reached a record high, tripling August 2010 at 822,012 tonnes. Thermal coal and petroleum coke were both down on the previous year. Timber logs shipped increased 36.36 per cent over last August.
Mr Stevenson said: "That's a record month, and it shows that there is a lot of cooperation going on between the terminal and the railway to create as much capacity as possible."
Compared to the other west coast ports which deal with higher volumes than Prince Rupert, Seattle's volumes declined between May to July by 14.6 per cent year on year while Vancouver's average increased slightly by 0.97 per cent in the same period.
Prince Rupert Port Authority's vice president Shaun Stevenson said trade for British Columbia exports and in particular forest products for Asia-Pacific has increased: "Ultimately, in these economic times, shippers are looking to tighten their supply chains and create great efficiencies and Prince Rupert offers a way to do that."
In August, imports saw a year-on-year increase of 28.5 per cent to 24,724 TEU but a drop from month previous of 1,300 TEU. Loaded exports increased 58.01 per cen but still less than the previous month. Empties increased month on month by 845 TEU and by 26.8 per cent to 9,401.5 TEU year on year.
The Ridley bulk terminal reached a record high, tripling August 2010 at 822,012 tonnes. Thermal coal and petroleum coke were both down on the previous year. Timber logs shipped increased 36.36 per cent over last August.
Mr Stevenson said: "That's a record month, and it shows that there is a lot of cooperation going on between the terminal and the railway to create as much capacity as possible."