Port activity

Economic activity at Canada's ports was up during the first six months of 2003 as compared with the same period a year earlier, primarily because of the strength of higher shipments of crude petroleum. Overall, shipments increased at 15 of the country's top 20 ports.

In total, Canada's ports handled 198.1 million metric tonnes of cargo between January and June 2003, up 7.7% from the same period in 2002. Shipments of crude petroleum rose 37.8% to 48.7 million metric tonnes.

Despite a 3.6% decrease in overall activity, Vancouver continued to be the country's busiest port handling 32.1 million metric tonnes accounting for 16% of all shipping in Canada. A drop of 1.5 million metric tonnes (-59.7%) in wheat was primarily responsible for the decline as drought conditions in the Prairies during the growing season of 2002 resulted in lower wheat production. The decrease in total tonnage at Vancouver was mitigated by a 9.9% increase in containerized cargo tonnage, which exceeded 750,000, a gain of 15.9%.

Higher shipments of crude petroleum resulted in increased levels of activity at several ports. The total tonnage handled at Come-by-Chance rose to 22.6 million metric tonnes led by a 41.2% gain in crude petroleum shipments. Increased shipments of crude from the offshore oil fields of Newfoundland and Labrador coupled with a rise in foreign crude from Europe were responsible for the gain. The ongoing growth in crude petroleum activity at Come-by-Chance solidified its position as the nation's second busiest port.

Activity at Port Hawkesbury reached 12.0 million metric tonnes, an increase of 64.9%. Total tonnage of crude petroleum more than doubled to 7.2 million metric tonnes as the level of foreign shipments began to return to their previous levels after falling sharply in the first six months of 2002.

Tonnage handled at Halifax rebounded to 7.1 million metric tonnes up 17.1% after a decline of 12.0% was reported during the same period in 2002. Higher levels of crude petroleum and fuel oils were responsible for the increase.

Total container tonnage rose to 13.8 million metric tonnes—an increase of 13.4% from 2002. Containerized traffic was concentrated at several ports with Vancouver handling 42% of the tonnage, followed by Montréal (34%), Halifax (16%), Fraser River (7%) and Saint John (1%).

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 2751 and 2791.

Annual estimates will appear in the publication Shipping in Canada (54-205-XIE, $43).

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Ron Chrétien (1-866-500-4400; fax 613-951-0009; transportationstatistics@statcan.gc.ca), Transportation Division.