Port of Saint John Exceeds 30 Million Metric Tonnes of Cargo in Single Year

(Saint John, N.B.) The Port of Saint John exceeded 30 million metric tonnes of cargo in a single year for the first time ever in 2010.

Cargo statistics released today by Saint John Port Authority show traffic recovery was experienced in majority of sectors through the year. A 13% increase in total port traffic was experienced with tonnage reaching 30,500,000 metric tonnes.

Significant increases of close to 3 million metric tonnes in petroleum products and close to 650,000 metric tonnes (largely in dry bulk) contributed to breaking the record for total traffic.

These increases are reassuring after a dampened economy in 2008 led to significant decreases in cargo movements during 2009.

In the cruise sector, 2010 was also a record breaking year as the number of cruise guests welcomed here surpassed 200,000 in a single year. This was a Port Authority milestone originally projected to be reached by 2015. Last year close to 205,900 passengers and 77,000 crew members called on Saint John between June and October, a 10 % increase over the previous year. In addition, 2010 was also the year the Port hosted its 1.5 millionth cumulative cruise guest.

Joining the Port Authority in late September of 2010, I was fortunate to arrive at a time that was full of opportunity. Today we see positive gains in cargo recovery for 2010 and continuing growth in cruise, but we also see the Port Authority and its many partners strengthening working relationships to bring greater prosperity to the region via our shared asset of the Port of Saint John, enthused Jim Quinn, President & CEO of Saint John Port Authority. It is only by working together as a community that we can 'raise our game' and continue to reap the benefits that having a piece of national infrastructure of this scale in Saint John will bring.

The Port of Saint John contributes $375 million in GDP for Saint John and $425 for the Province of New Brunswick as a whole and is essential to many of New Brunswick's major industries engaged in international trade. The Port provides deep-water, ice-free access to shipping year round. The Saint John Port Authority is a commercially viable, self-sufficient government business enterprise facilitating maritime trade by administering a critical component of the region's transportation infrastructure.