Montreal’s port sees growth

MONTREAL: Traffic at the Port of Montreal reached 25.9 million tonnes of cargo in 2010—up 5.7 percent over 2009—the port announced during its May 27 annual general meeting. Every sector of cargo handled at the port experienced growth.

Last year, the volume of containerized goods handled at the port climbed to 12.3 million tonnes compared to 11.3 million tonnes in 2009—a 6.8-percent increase. As for TEU containers, the port handled slightly more than 1.33 million containers in 2010, a 6.7-percent increase over 1.24 million in 2009. Traffic with the Mediterranean was the growth engine in the containerized cargo section with an increase in volume  of 33 percent in 2010, the port said.

“This reflects the importance of hub ports in the Mediterranean that receive cargo from Southeast Asia via the Suez Canal, and that we are in business with,” said Sylvie Vachon, president and CEO of the Montreal Port Authority.

Deliveries of petroleum products, including jet fuel, fuel oil and gasoline, were the key factors in the 4.9-percent rise in the liquid bulk sector, the port said. The liquid bulk market reached 8.15 million tonnes in 2010.

In dry bulk, the recovery in the areas of iron ore, zinc, fertilizers, and the receipt of grain by rail and trucks largely contributed to the increase of 5.1 percent posted in this sector, the port said. The dry bulk market has reached 5.58 million tonnes.

Infrastructure investments

Also in 2010, the port invested $41.2 million, including $5.2 million from the federal government via its infrastructure stimulus fund to improve the efficiency of facilities and to meet tenants’ needs. Three major projects were undertaken: the extension of a pier at CAST Terminal; increased capacity of the port’s electrical network and the installation of a common entry portal for trucks.

“All these projects are aimed at improving the port’s efficiency in the transportation logistics chain so that the port remains the gateway of choice to North America,” concluded Ms. Vachon.