Montreal box traffic up 9% for 2004

Montreal box traffic up 9% for 2004    Container traffic at the port of Montreal increased 9 percent last year to a record 1.2 million TEUs. Total traffic at the port increased 14 percent or 2.8 million tons to 23.6 million tons in 2004.
   “Of course, economic conditions stimulated our container traffic, but the arrival of new container-shipping lines in 2004 definitely helped,” said Dominic J. Taddeo, president and chief executive officer of the Montreal Port Authority. “Twelve out of 15 of the world’s largest container-shipping lines now call Montreal.”
   The port expects container traffic to make up half of its total traffic, from the current 46 percent, in the next five years.
   The Montreal Port Authority said it intends to invest more than Can$150 million ($122 million) to improve and expand its facilities, chiefly its container terminals. Capital investments for 2005 are estimated at more than Can$30 million ($24 million), the authority said.