New data shows that 2010 was a boom year for trade growth through Canada’s Pacific gateway.
Container traffic increased 22%, bulk trade rose 15% and coal volumes doubled at the Port of Prince Rupert, while rising 25% at Port Metro Vancouver, according to B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure data.
Cargo through the Vancouver International Airport rose 18% compared with 2009, the ministry noted.
Business in Vancouver reported recently on trends in B.C exports to Asia (see “China biggest driver for B.C. export growth to Asia” – issue 1111; February 8-14).
Japan continues to be the largest destination for B.C. exports to Asia, but China is responsible for the recent growth of B.C. exports to that continent.
According to BC Stats, exports to China grew 325% between 1999 and 2009. That compares with shrinking exports to Hong Kong (-20%) and Japan (-22.5%) during the same period.
Transportation and Infrastructure minister Shirley Bond and executives from Port Metro Vancouver, Port of Prince Rupert, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and Vancouver International Airport went on a trade mission to Asia in November.
Some results of the mission, according to Bond, were increasing demand for B.C. coal and wood pellets, as well as:
- POSCO, the world’s fourth largest steel producer plans to increase coal exports from B.C. by 15% annually;
- Tokyo Electric Power Co. is interested in B.C.’s thermal coal and in exploring wood pellets as an alternative for electricity production in the city; and
- Copper concentrate from the Copper Mountain mine near Princeton will ship to Mitsubishi Materials Corp. of Japan through the Port of Vancouver.