The Port of Halifax experienced double-digit growth across most of its cargo divisions in 2010, a sign of recovery following the recent recession.
And while the port is running at only one-third of its capacity, the rosy 2010 numbers are a welcome improvement over recent years.
On Wednesday, the port released 2010 cargo figures, highlighted by a 26 per cent jump in container cargo, the port's core business. The port attributed the growth to the addition of new shipping lines, more frequent port calls and a boost in the amount of cargo hauled by the port's existing shippers.
According to port spokeswoman Michele Peveril, the 26-per-cent increase outpaced many other North American ports, such as New York, which recorded container growth of 16 per cent in 2010; Virginia, up 10 per cent; Charleston, 16 per cent; Montreal, seven per cent; and Vancouver, 17 per cent.
But rapid growth at the Halifax port was not restricted to container cargo. Break-bulk cargo, such as machinery, metals and forest products, was up 23.7 per cent over 2009, while roll-on, roll-off cargo, such as automobiles, was up nearly 16 per cent.
As well, the number of cruise ship passengers received by the port was up 14.7 per cent compared to 2009. In all, a record 261,216 passengers visited Halifax in 2010.
There was, however, one exception to the strong 2010 showing: bulk cargo, such as oil imports and gypsum exports, was down 14 per cent thanks to weak U.S. demand.
"Overall it was a strong year. Cargo was up substantially and has rebounded following the global recession," said Peveril in an interview. "We're recovering well."
Still, Peveril says the port has yet to return to the record traffic levels recorded before the recession. |
