Port of Vancouver post record half year box volumes

Port of Vancouver post record half year box volumes    The Canadian port of Vancouver reported Wednesday record container throughput for the first six months of the year at 853,238 TEUs, up 5 percent over the same period in 2004.
   The port witnessed a 21 percent jump in the shipment of petroleum products to 2.4 million tons, compared to the same period last year. Dry bulk shipments increased 5 percent to 25.5 million tons, while coal, the single-largest commodity shipped through the port, rose 5 percent to 12.8 million tons. Shipments of potash increased 6 percent to 3.3 million tons. Sulphur shipments declined 2 percent to 3 million tons shipped. Major grain volumes increased 5 percent to 4.3 million tons. Lumber shipments dropped 19 percent to 977,745 tons.
   The port said the recent trucking dispute is expected to impact container volumes in the third quarter.