The Port of Halifax, a strong competitor of the Port of Montreal, managed double-digit growth in most of its cargo activities last year - though it still ran at less than half its rated capacity.
Container cargo movements were up 26 per cent from 2009 to 435,000 TEU because of the addition of more shipping lines and more frequent calls. That compared with Montreal's 7-per-cent gain, Vancouver's 17 per cent and New York's 16 per cent.
Break-bulk cargo, such as machinery, metals and forest products, gained 23.7 per cent, and roll-on/roll-off cargo, mainly cars, almost 16 per cent. Cruise-ship passenger count rose 14.7 per cent to a record 261,216.
But bulk cargoes, such as oil imports and gypsum exports, were down 14 per cent, mainly because of the U.S. recession.
Halifax's two terminals can handle 1.4 million containers annually. Before the recession container traffic ran at more than 500,000 annually. It is seeking more business from southeast Asia to bolster the traditional European volume. |
