The Port of Prince Rupert experienced a 23% drop in total cargo movement from 2020 to 2021.
More than 25 million tonnes of cargo moved through the northern B.C. port last year compared with 31.3 million the previous year, a change the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) called “uncharacteristic.”
PRPA CEO Shaun Stevenson said global supply chains have experienced unprecedented challenges and volatility.
PRPA said Jan. 18 the 2021 volume included a record year at AltaGas’ Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal with almost 1.5 million tonnes handled. And, it said, with Pembina’s Watson Island LPG Bulk Terminal coming online, it saw 370,525 tonnes exported.
Westview Pellet Terminal, owned and operated by Pinnacle Renewable Energy, now a subsidiary of Drax Group, exported 1,44 million tonnes of wood pellets.
DP World-Prince Rupert’s Fairview Container Terminal’s volume declined slightly to 1.054 million twenty-foot equivalent units handled.
Ridley Terminals saw a sharp decline due to the loss of a core coal customer.
Prince Rupert Grain experienced decreased shipments due to a poor crop year in the Canadian agricultural sector.
The port is expecting a return to cruise operations this summer.
