Grain volume through the Port of Thunder Bay picked up in September, recording a 27 per cent increase over the five-year average.
Last month, 850,000 tonnes were loaded onto ships for overseas delivery. Year-to-date grain shipments are 4.92 million tonnes, up close to a million over last year’s mark.
The port authority said saltwater vessels are becoming more frequent as 16 “salties” visited the port during the month to take on Western Canadian grain cargoes bound for ports in Europe, Egypt, Morocco, Mexico and South America. It’s the most of any September since 2000.
A strong October is anticipated as grain has begun arriving by rail in Thunder Bay earlier than usual this fall.
The authority also reports a significant increase in inbound general cargoes such as steel beams, stators, windmill parts, roll-on/roll-off equipment, heavy machinery and wood pellets at Keefer Terminal. Several more such cargoes are on the books.
