Prince Rupert Container Traffic Soars 33.1 Percent

• Get updates on trade, Customs and regulatory changes
• Stay informed on trade compliance seminars,
  workshops and industry events

x

The Journal of Commerce Aug 05, 2011

Canada’s Port of Prince Rupert reported loaded container volume soared 33.1 percent in July on Thursday, an unusually strong expansion that came as most North American ports are showing lackluster results this summer.

Loaded imports grew 18 percent at the Pacific Canadian port while outbound volume, less than third of the business at Prince Rupert, nearly doubled, expanding a dramatic 94.5 percent.

The strong growth at Prince Rupert follows the addition of two services in May, bringing to four the number of weekly trans-Pacific services at Prince Rupert, some 500 miles north of Vancouver.

China Ocean Shipping Co. in May added Prince Rupert to its South China service. Hanjin added the port to its Pacific Northwest Express service. The express service marks the first at Prince Rupert on which Hanjin vessels are deployed.

Hanjin had been serving Prince Rupert by sharing space on Cosco vessels.

For the first seven months of the year, Prince Rupert’s container volume was up 16.5 percent over the same period a year ago. But imports have slipped 0.1 percent while exports were up 82.3 percent in that time.

The port handled 165,283 loaded TEUS in fiscal year 2011 ending July 31, up 15 percent from the previous fiscal year.

Read Full Article on The Journal of Commerce »