Cargo volumes down slightly at Port of Montreal

The Port of Montreal’s 2023 operating results show a slight drop in volumes compared with 2022, with a total of 35.3 million tonnes of cargo handled at the port, down 1.8 per cent compared with last year.

Unveiled during its annual meeting, the slight drop in volumes resulted in the Port of Montreal’s operating results totaling $138 million and net earnings of $11 million. Julie Gascon, president and CEO of the Montreal Port Authority, says the year was distinguished by achievements in port infrastructure and commitments to sustainable development.

“Despite fluctuating economic conditions, 2023 was a year of consolidation and significant progress for the Port of Montreal. Not only did we maintain our capability to efficiently serve Canada’s supply chain, but we also made meaningful commitments to sustainable development and the protection of biodiversity,” says Gascon. “These efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to innovation and support for a greener, more resilient economy. As we look to the future, we stay determined to strengthen our leading role in the port sector by optimizing our operations and advancing our expansion in Contrecœur, a major project that guarantees our sustainable contribution to the Canadian economy.”

In 2023, the MPA inaugurated major projects it has been working on for several years. Chief among these was the official inauguration of the Port of Montreal Tower, the culmination of the extensive redevelopment of the former Alexandra Pier, now the Port of Montreal’s Grand Quay.

Commissioning of the Vickers overpass in the Viau sector and completion of Phase 3 of the rail capacity optimization project will help improve the fluidity and efficiency of port operations.

These projects are milestones in the MPA’s mission to develop, optimize, and innovate in the service of the supply chain and the people of Canada.

Other cargo highlights from the annual report include:

• The container sector dropped by 8.9 per cent, with 13.1 million tonnes handled and 1.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
• The liquid bulk sector, buoyed by the sustained recovery in air travel, rose by 6.8 per cent to 13.9 million tonnes.
• The dry bulk sector posted a modest decline of three per cent to 8.4 million tonnes.
• The cruise season enjoyed a 33 per cent increase in visitor numbers, with 51,096 passengers and 16,203 crew members over the course of 49 ship calls.