The Port of Prince Rupert beat expectations and had another banner year in 2011 with record exports of forest, coal and grain products to China, Japan and Korea.
In all, 19.3 million tonnes of cargo moved through the port altogether, an increase of 18 per cent over 2010.
Total coal tonnage shipped from Ridley Terminals Inc. (RTI) to Korea, China and Japan was up 16 per cent over 2010. RTI shipped 9.64 million tonnes of product compared to 8.30 million tonnes in 2010.
The number of loaded containers shipped out through Prince Rupert was up 59 per cent from 2010, with much of the growth attributed to strong exports of B.C. forest products to the expanding Chinese market.
Grain exports, principally to China, increased 17 per cent, from 4.29 million tonnes in 2010 to five million tonnes in 2011.
"We are ecstatic about continued growth at the Port of Prince Rupert, and we credit the efficient and committed workforce as a key driver of success," said Prince Rupert Port Authority chief executive officer Don Krusel in a press release. "It also stems from the support of citizens, companies, and cities along the entire trade corridor."
The federal and provincial governments have committed millions of dollars to further upgrading the facility.
Ottawa is contributed $30 million to the first phase expansion of the container terminal and is putting a further $28 million into a state-of-the-art container-screening program.
The B.C. government has committed $15 million to Prince Rupert Road Rail Utility Corridor Project, which supports terminal developments and increased capacity on Ridley Island.
"These investments are positioning Canada as the gateway of choice between Asia and North America," federal international trade minister Ed Fast said in the release. "In fact, Canada's west coast ports are more than two days closer to Asian markets than are any other ports in North America."
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