Canada’s Prince Rupert Port handled 23.1 million tonnes in 2024, reflecting a slight 1% decline from the previous year.
Intermodal volumes at DP World Prince Rupert’s Fairview Container Terminal increased by 5% year-over-year. However, performance was influenced by shifts in Transpacific trade routes, two labour disruptions, and a temporary suspension of rail service caused by wildfires that briefly halted terminal operations.
Demand for Western Canadian energy products remained robust, with AltaGas’ Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal shipping 2.3 million tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a 15% year-over-year increase. Pembina’s Watson Island LPG Bulk Terminal handled 502,800 tonnes, while Drax’s Westview Wood Pellet Terminal exported 1.2 million tonnes of biofuel to markets in Europe and Asia.
Prince Rupert Grain Terminal experienced a 26% surge in exports, handling over 4.5 million tonnes of Western Canadian agricultural products, thanks to a strong crop year. In contrast, total coal export volumes at Trigon Pacific Terminals fell by 23%, with metallurgical and thermal coal exports declining by 29 and 22%, respectively. Cruise passenger numbers also dropped by 27%, with over 59,400 visitors passing through Prince Rupert in 2024.
Despite the slight decrease in annual cargo volumes, the Prince Rupert Gateway is enhancing its competitiveness and diversifying its operations by developing new terminal and logistics capacities, which will bolster resilience against market fluctuations. In 2024, the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) advanced multiple strategic initiatives totaling over US$1.7 billion in capital investments, aimed at strengthening and diversifying exports, optimizing supply chain efficiency, and restoring cargo volumes. Key project milestones achieved in 2024 include:
- Ridley Island Energy Export Facility (REEF): Construction began on this large-scale LPG and bulk liquids export terminal, a US$900 million joint venture between AltaGas and Vopak. Following a final investment decision in Q2 2024, the initial development phase includes approximately 55,000 barrels per day of LPG export capacity and 600,000 barrels of LPG storage, bolstering Canadian energy exports to the Asia Pacific region.
- CANXPORT Export Logistics Facility: The Canada Infrastructure Bank finalized a US$155 million loan to PRPA for the first phase of this large-scale logistics and transloading project in Q2 2024. Developed and operated by Ray-Mont Logistics, the facility will offer 400,000 TEUs of annual capacity for forestry, agricultural, and resin products, improving intermodal trade competitiveness and container handling.
- Trigon Pacific Terminals’ Berth Two Beyond Carbon Project: Significant progress was made on constructing a second marine berth, which will increase vessel capacity at the terminal. The new marine infrastructure is on track for completion in 2025.
