VANCOUVER, B.C. — Trade through the Port of Vancouver grew four per cent to 76.3 million tones in 2005, with exports of petroleum and canola showing the largest of marked increases at 27 per cent and 17 per cent respectively. As well, container traffic attained a new record of twenty-foot equivalent units at 1.77 million.

Increases in trade activity and demand, from Asian economies and the United States, indicate the critical need to expand capacity and implement supply chain efficiencies to accommodate future growth.

“We will continue to lead the expansion of the Pacific Gateway through terminal expansion projects and by driving action across the nation’s transportation sector to improve efficiencies,” said Capt. Gordon Houston, president and CEO of the Vancouver Port Authority. “Growing demand provides significant opportunities to strengthen the Canadian economy and employment, yet competing ports in the U.S. are expanding at a fast pace.”

A number of major ports along the west coast recorded double-digit increases at the end of November 2005, including: Seattle at 18 per cent, Long Beach at 18 per cent, Tacoma at 16 per cent and Oakland at 13 per cent.

“We must maintain our competitive position through improvements and capitalize on these opportunities, otherwise economic benefits will be lost,” said Houston.

The Port of Vancouver is Canada’s largest and most diversified port, trading more than $43 billion in goods with more than 90 trading economies annually.

“Forecasts indicate a 25 per cent increase in bulk cargo shipments and a 300 per cent increase in container volumes over the next 15 years,” said George Adams, chairman of the Vancouver Port Authority. “To satisfy demand and handle ever-increasing growth through the port, we must work together with our partners in trade and transportation to quickly and effectively improve capacity and supply chain efficiencies.”