Port of Montreal

2019 Annual Report

Investing
our world

2019 Highlights

Liquid Bulk
16.2 MT
1%
Dry Bulk
9.2 MT
17%
Containerized Cargo
1.75 M TEUs
3.9%

Total volume of goods handled

40.6 million tonnes

4.3%
Summary of financial results

Port of Montreal traffic

(in thousands of tonnes)
Type of cargo 2019 2018 Variation
General cargo
Containerized 15,087 14,537 3,8%
Non-containerized 123 185 -33,7%
Total 15,210 14,723 3,3%
Liquid bulk
Petroleum products 15,717 15,806 -0,6%
Other 498 569 -12,6%
Total 16,215 16,375 -1,0%
Dry bulk
Grains 4,232 2,025 109,0%
Other 4,933 5,802 -15,0%
Total 9,165 7,827 17,1%
Total tonnage 40,590 38,925 4,3%

6th consecutive record year

The only container port on the St. Lawrence River and the second largest port in Canada, it connects a pool of 110 million consumers, from Eastern Canada to the U.S. Midwest, to more than 140 countries around the world. 

Benefits and traffic

Exceeding the 40 million tonne mark of cargo handled was a historic first. It also made 2019 the sixth consecutive record year for the Port of Montreal.

Economic Driver

Growth and fluidity

Handling 1.75 million TEUs in 2019 brought the Port of Montreal close to its maximum land-based container transshipment capacity. To keep playing its role as a hub for international trade and an open door for companies from around the world, the Port of Montreal has been investing in its infrastructure.

Welcoming growth

International

Connected worldwide to more than 140 countries, the Port of Montreal continued to strengthen its international trade ties in 2019. 

International

Sustainable development

Whether making our activities and projects better known in a spirit of transparency with residents, or making the public benefit from our new public spaces on the waterfront, or supporting community organizations, the Port of Montreal increased the number of events and actions. 

A citizen port

Chair and CEO Message

With a sixth consecutive record year in 2019, the Port of Montreal reasserted its leading role in Eastern Canada’s economy. Over the past few years, the Port of Montreal has made optimum use of its strategic advantages to consolidate its competitiveness. 

Economic impact at a glance
  • 19,000
    jobs
    direct, indirect and induced
  • $2.6
    billion
    in economic benefits
  • 1.7
    million
    containers handled

Year in brief

    • The Port of Montreal welcomed the first ocean-going vessel of the year, the Virginiaborg. The Gold-Headed Cane was awarded to Captain Volodymyr Yurchenko. 

    • The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) took part in the OCPM consultation on the Assomption-Sud—Longue-Pointe sector and presented its overpass project near Viau Terminal.

    • The MPA announced the arrival of a seventh international container shipping line: COSCO Shipping Lines.

    • The MPA and Termont announced the second phase of works to finalize Viau Terminal, which will bring the total container handling capacity to 600,000 TEUs.

    • MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company strengthened trade ties between Europe and Canada by creating a new direct service between Turkey and Canada

    • The MPA committed to work with Environment and Climate Change Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to create National Wildlife Areas on the Boucherville Islands and protect natural environments on the St. Lawrence River.

    • The Montreal and Antwerp port authorities renewed their cooperation agreement for ten years. Inter-port governance, trade, innovation and sustainable development are among the areas of cooperation. 

    • The MPA launched a new version of its Port in the City event aimed at making its activities better known to residents of districts bordering its facilities. In all, close to 5,000 residents attended their neighbourhood event and 400 visited a terminal. 

    • The first nautical picnics were held at the Grand Quay, featuring many free activities for all ages. The two events attracted more than 7,000 visitors. 

    • As part of the Canada-European Union Summit, the Port of Montreal welcomed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, European Council President Donald Tusk, the European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström and Canada’s Minister of International Trade Diversification, Jim Carr.

    • As part of the Canada-European Union Summit, the Port of Montreal welcomed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, European Council President Donald Tusk, the European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström and Canada’s Minister of International Trade Diversification, Jim Carr.

    • Holland-America Line celebrated the arrival of its 500,000th cruise passenger to Montreal. 

    • Federal Minister of Transport Marc Garneau announced $18.5 million for a project to increase freight mobility at the Port of Montreal, including construction a railway bridge at the exit of the truck gate.

    • The MPA and Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) signed a memorandum of understanding for the Contrecœur Terminal project. 

    • The MPA launched a shoreline cleanup operation in Contrecœur, involving about a hundred stakeholders in the marine industry. 

    • Canada Infrastructure Bank announced it would invest up to $300 million in the Contrecœur container terminal project

    • A new predictive version was introduced of the Trucking PORTal to make truck traffic more fluid and further reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

    • A dynamic, new interactive exhibition opened at the Port Centre, entitled All aboard!