Arctic Gateway Group signs deal with European port to boost Churchill trade corridor

Arctic Gateway Group (AGG) says it has signed an agreement with Port of Antwerp-Bruges International to expand trade and investment opportunities between Canada and Europe.

The agreement creates a framework for collaboration between the Port of Churchill in northern Manitoba and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, focusing on port development, intermodal transportation and new cargo flows.

The partners said priority sectors include critical minerals, energy products, fertilizer inputs, containerized goods and agricultural commodities.

“The world is taking notice of what we are building in northern Manitoba and see real value in shipping through Churchill,” said Chris Avery, president and CEO, Arctic Gateway Group. “This new agreement with a major European port will look to move critical minerals, energy, fertilizer and other agricultural products more directly to Europe, while European investment, equipment and manufactured goods can flow back into Churchill. By working with Port of Antwerp-Bruges International, we are building a reliable, diversified trade corridor that strengthens supply chains, attracts long-term investment and delivers measurable economic benefits to Indigenous and northern communities, Manitoba and industry across Western Canada.”

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges handles nearly 300 million tonnes of cargo annually and serves as a major European gateway for energy, bulk goods and containers.

“Europe and the European Union are accelerating efforts to secure reliable, sustainable sources of critical raw materials, energy and agricultural inputs essential to our industrial base and clean energy transition,” said Kristof Waterschoot, CEO of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges International. “Some direct examples are the Critical Raw Material Act of 2024 or the Clean Industry Deal of 2025. Canada is a trusted partner, and the Port of Churchill is a strategic Arctic gateway with significant long-term potential for the exchange of valuable resources between Europe, Manitoba and the Canadian West.”

The two organizations said the agreement will include information-sharing on infrastructure and logistics, exploration of trade opportunities and potential joint studies to support development initiatives.

Arctic Gateway Group said the deal builds on efforts to position the Port of Churchill and the Hudson Bay Railway as key components of a northern trade corridor linking Western Canada to global markets, while the European partner said the collaboration aligns with its mandate to expand international partnerships and support sustainable port development.