Prince Rupert terminals set individual records while overall volume declines

Tonnage at the port was down overall, despite high volumes at specific terminals.    Cargo volumes at more than half of the terminals at Port of Prince Rupert in 2014 were the highest recorded, according to year-end statistics released by the Prince Rupert Port Authority.
   The port saw increases in container, grain and biofuel shipments in the past year, but overall port tonnage decreased by 10 percent as coal and log exports tightened in response to market forces.
    Fairview Container Terminal moved 618,167 TEUs of containerized cargo, 15 percent more than in 2013. Prince Rupert Grain increased exports of Canadian agriculture products by 25 percent and had total volume of nearly 6.5 million tons in 2014. In its first full year of operation, Westview Wood Pellet Terminal moved over 500,000 tons of biofuel to markets in Asia and Europe.
   Don Krusel, President and CEO of the Port of Prince Rupert said, “The record-breaking performance of specific terminals demonstrates the value of building a diversified port complex. A strong year in some sectors offsets challenges faced by others. This underlines the port’s overall resilience, and its ability to sustain benefits to our community despite market fluctuations.
   “The enviable global reputation of all Prince Rupert’s terminals is owed to their hard-working men and women,” added Krusel. “Their commitment to safety, efficiency and reliability is the foundation of our ability to handle unprecedented cargo volumes — with more to come in the year ahead.”