Benefits and traffic
The Port of Montreal reported an overall increase of 5.8% in volumes compared to last year, with a total of 36 million tonnes of cargo passing through its facilities. The container sector accounted for 40% of total volumes with 14.4 million tonnes, liquid bulk for 36% with 13 million tonnes, and dry bulk for 24% with 8.2 million tonnes.
This increase signals a return to growth after two years of declining cargo volumes due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and labour disputes.
Containers
The container sector edged up 1.2% to reach 14.4 million tonnes handled and over 1.7 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).
The main commodities handled were food products, metal and steel products, construction materials, forestry products, vehicles and accessories, chemicals, and textile products.
Northern Europe accounted for 34% of the container sector, Asia for 23%, the Mediterranean basin for 22%, the Middle East for 8%, Africa and Oceania for 7%, and Latin America for 6%.
India became the Port of Montreal’s leading trading partner for the first time, overtaking Germany, the historic front runner in the Port of Montreal’s marine traffic. It should also be noted that the Mediterranean basin experienced an overall growth of nearly 10% and that the Middle East and Latin American markets enjoyed a record year with exports up 30% and 50% respectively.
On the domestic front, the Port increased its trade with the Western provinces by just under 50%. In 2022, 54% of Port trade was headed to or came from the Quebec market, 26% from Ontario, 11% from the rest of Canada and 9% from the United States.
Dry bulk
Led by the grain sector, which rebounded strongly with a 21% upswing, the dry bulk sector posted an increase of 4.7% with 8.2 million tonnes.
The main commodities handled in dry bulk included grains (soybeans, wheat, barley, canola, rye and more), iron ore, sugar, salt, fertilizers, gypsum and gravel.
Breakbulk and non-containerized cargo rose to 0.4 million tonnes, up nearly 90% from 2021.
Liquid bulk
As vessel movements picked up, the liquid bulk sector grew by 10.6% compared to 2021, with 13 million tonnes handled.
Petroleum products made up the lion’s share of these volumes, along with asphalt, fertilizers and ethyl alcohol.
Cruises
The year 2022 was marked by the resumption of cruises in Montreal after two consecutive seasons had been cancelled due to health restrictions. This first post-pandemic season yielded encouraging results: Port of Montreal terminals welcomed 50,929 passengers and crew members with 49 ship visits.
The season began on May 7, 2022 with the arrival of American Queen Voyages’ Ocean Navigator and ended on October 31, 2022 with the departure of Oceania Cruises’ Insignia.
Four ships called at Montreal for the first time: Ponant’s Bellot and Dumont d’Urville, Vantage Cruise Line’s Ocean Explorer and Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambience.