October 07, 2024
Cargo volumes at the Port of Vancouver were steady in the first half of 2024, decreasing less than 1% compared to the same period a year ago, as record international trade was offset by lower volumes of domestic goods.
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority's 2024 mid-year statistics show port operators and supply chain partners moved 75.5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of trade between January 1 and June 30, 2024-led by strong performances in the container, auto and liquid bulk sectors.
Container volumes at the port largely recovered and stabilized in the first half of 2024, following several tumultuous years that included a pandemic-era surge in consumer demand and numerous supply chain disruptions. Imports (laden inbound) grew 19%, as retailers restocked their inventories early in anticipation of potential labour disputes and some volumes appeared to shift from the east coast due to disruptions to the Red Sea trade route, while exports (laden outbound) grew 4% with Canadian businesses increasingly turning to containers to ship their goods to markets across the globe.
Dry bulk volumes decreased 6% in the first six months of 2024 compared to the same period last year, as last year's record Canadian commodity export volumes eased due to lower Prairie crop yields, supply chain disruptions and lower global prices. This included grain decreasing 5%, coal decreasing 1% and fertilizer decreasing 10%.
Source: Vancouver Fraser Port Authority