Port of Montreal outpaces all other NA ports

MONTREAL — At a time when container movements are weakening across Canada, the Port of Montreal is keeping well above water, authorities report.

Despite the effects of a shrinking economy, the Montreal Port Authority reports that it is in better shape than other Canadian ports. Although containerized cargo tonnage will drop by 3.7 percent, compared to a record 2008 total tonnage should still be 2.7 percent higher than in 2007.

"Probably the next quarter will be critical to see if we are at the bottom of this recession and then we will have to build the business back," CEO Patrice Pelletier told Canadian Press.

The port of Montreal has a geographical advantage
over other eastern ports, officials say

The port may be bracing for a tough six to 12 months, but Montreal did record the highest growth among North America’s 10 main container ports. Shipped tonnage increased by 7.2 percent to 1.46 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), reports CP. And total traffic was 26.6 million tonnes, up about 2.5 percent from an historic year in 2007.

That compares favorably to Halifax and Vancouver, which was particularly hurt by reduced sea shipping traffic with China and Asia. Montreal instead kept robust from freight via Mediterranean and Caribbean routes, which were both up as much as 30 percent.

The port’s location, particularly being a pivot point between Atlantic shipping and cross-border surface trade, gives it a competitive advantage over rivals, Pelletier told media. It has also been helped by a shift to containers from bulk shipments.

Meanwhile, the port is also looking to expand its operations with a new shipping terminal.