NEWS RELEASE
Ottawa, Ontario – As the fall harvest approaches, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway ships are hard at work delivering the large excess of grain remaining from the 2017 harvest to export markets. Canadian grain shipments via the St. Lawrence Seaway (from March 29 to August 31) totaled 4.3 million metric tons, up 13 per cent over the same period last year.
The grain rush has helped boost overall cargo shipments on the St. Lawrence Seaway between March 29 and August 31 to 21.4 million metric tons; a four per cent increase over this time last year. Liquid bulk shipments at 2.8 million metric tons are also up 33 per cent, with coal at 1.5 million metric tons, up 30 per cent.
“Great Lakes-Seaway ships are helping clear out the huge Western Canadian grain harvest still left over from last year and responding to the increased demand from European markets for Ontario corn. The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System is a key national transportation and trade corridor, accounting for 27 per cent of all Canadian 2017-2018 grain exports shipped out on bulk vessels,” says Terence Bowles, President and CEO of The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation.
Canadian ports throughout the region are seeing the effects of the demand for grain.
The Port of Johnstown has received and shipped 190,000 metric tons of soybeans, corn and wheat from the region’s farmers through its terminal so far this year. Ships have transported 50,000 metric tons of that grain to export markets. “We are currently up 18 per cent from this time last year for total grain cargo,” said Robert Dalley, Port of Johnstown General Manager. “Last month, we also received just under 5,000 metric tons of bulk steel by ship for the construction industry. The Port continues to increase its available cargo laydown areas with $600,000 being invested to clear and develop five acres of additional land.”
Hamilton Port Authority’s total year-to-date tonnage was up 17 per cent from a year ago thanks to grain, fertilizer and petroleum products. Year-to-August grain exports were up 115 per cent compared to the same period last year.
“Thanks to the harvest crop last year, the export grain cargo continues to be the best performing commodity this year,” says Ian Hamilton, President and CEO at the Hamilton Port Authority. “We’ve seen a significant increase in corn exports. Europe is always a large importer of corn, but this year, a heat wave has meant European livestock producers have been relying on more imported corn as feed. European tariffs on United States corn have also benefitted other exporters like Canada.”
Hamilton continues: “Fertilizer imports to the port have also increased to catch up with the demand from the Ontario farmers. The summer travel season also boosted the gasoline and jet fuel demands for petroleum and there was an increase in asphalt shipments for road construction work.”
The Port of Thunder Bay also continues to see large shipments of grain this summer, but August brought increases in coal, potash and general cargo compared to August 2017.
“At this point we are forecasting a strong finish to the season led by grain shipments,” says Tim Heney, President and CEO of the Thunder Bay Port Authority. “Our Terminal reconfiguration project is well under way and our new rail yard is nearing completion.”
The $15 million project at the general cargo Keefer terminal involves adding new track infrastructure and laydown areas for cargo staging and transshipment to respond to increased demand, and building a 4,645 square metre multi-purpose heated facility to suit requirements of terminal users. An existing aging shed will be removed to improve cargo flow and improve site safety.
According to a new study released this summer, cargo shipments to ports on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River waterway generate CDN$60 billion worth of economic activity and 328,500 jobs in Canada and the U.S. That breaks down to 181,000 jobs and CDN$26 billion in economic activity in Ontario and Quebec. The results include cargo carried on the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway and Lower St. Lawrence River.
View the full study at www.marinedelivers.com and our Infographic on the results:
Flickr – Download photos of Great Lakes-St. Lawrence shipping:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/marinecommerce/sets/72157657049769546/
About the Chamber of Marine Commerce
The Chamber of Marine Commerce is a bi-national association that represents more than 130 marine industry stakeholders including major Canadian and American shippers, ports, terminals and marine service providers, as well as domestic and international ship owners. The Chamber advocates for safe, sustainable, harmonized and competitive policy and regulation that recognizes the marine transportation system’s significant advantages in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence, Coastal and Arctic regions.
Media Contact:
Julia Fields
Chamber of Marine Commerce
(613) 294-8515
The Chamber of Marine Commerce (CMC) is a bi-national association that represents diverse marine industry stakeholders including major Canadian and American shippers, ports, terminals and marine service providers, as well as Canadian domestic and international ship owners. The Chamber advocates for safe, sustainable, harmonized and competitive policy and regulation that recognizes the marine transportation system's significant advantages in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence, Coastal and Arctic regions.
Media Contact:
Jason Card
Chamber of Marine Commerce
jcard@cmc-ccm.com
(613) 447 5401