THUNDER BAY — The shipping season is just into its second full month, but the Port of Thunder Bay is already "firing on all cylinders," says port CEO Chris Heikkinen.
Cargo shipments through the port to the end of April totalled 35 per cent more than at the same point last year.
"It's been a really positive start . . . Grain volumes are actually about what we typically see at this time of the year. And that story of potash, that's been going on in our port the last number of years, continues."
Potash shipments are pacing at a rate more than four times higher than a year ago.
"That is a very substantial volume. And in other areas, things are looking well. At Keefer [Terminal] we had some import cargoes starting off the season. Our first shipment was a very large load of phosphate fertilizer, and we've also had some steel rail and steel pipe coming through Keefer. So things are looking good just about everywhere," Heikkinen said Tuesday.
The number of ships visiting Thunder Bay so far also points to an exceptionally busy start to the season.
To the end of April, 61 vessels had tied up, compared with only 44 last year at the same time.
This includes 15 ocean-going boats, a sharp increase from the six that came to Thunder Bay last year by this point.
"What's great about seeing more 'saltie' vessels is that you're seeing the capacity, the vessel capacity on the lakes or in our port at least, increasing. The Canadian shipping companies, with the domestic fleets, generally speaking have a finite number of vessels, which represents a finite capacity for cargo moving around the Great Lakes," Heikkinen explained.
"But if you can attract those salties in and out of the port and in and out of the seaway system, you're really increasing the capacity."
Looking ahead to the rest of the year, he remarked that it's a good sign that "there's moisture" in the prairie grain fields, as that bodes well for the size of the crop that will be shipped through Thunder Bay in the fall.
Heikkinen also believes the disruption in the global fertilizer market caused by Russia's war against Ukraine is still benefiting the Port of Thunder Bay, because "shippers are really enjoying the more diversified supply chain routings that they've sort of found through their struggles. So we actually anticipate this will continue for this year."
It's estimated that more than 900 people work in port-related jobs in Thunder Bay, with port activity producing an approximate annual economic impact of close to $400 million.
