Posted on March 11, 2026
The Port of Vancouver handled record cargo volumes last year including exports, as terminals and supply chain partners enabled Canadian businesses to connect with overseas customers and grew access to non-U.S. markets in support of national trade priorities.
Exports of grain, crude oil and potash led the way—all hitting record levels—while containerized and auto trade also had record years. The Port of Vancouver handled 170.4 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo in 2025, an almost 8% increase compared to the previous record set in 2024.
“I want to recognize the entire port community for stepping up to support Canadians and their businesses during what are very challenging times for our country—we are stronger together,” said Peter Xotta, President and CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
“As Prime Minister Carney looks to double exports to non-U.S. markets in the next decade, the Port of Vancouver is playing an outsized role in delivering more made-in-Canada products to more customers globally. We are uniquely poised to support Canada’s bold trade goals because of decades of strategic investments in terminal and rail capacity. With nation-building projects like Roberts Bank Terminal 2 and Second Narrows dredging on the horizon, we’re showing the world that Canada is open for business.”
The Port of Vancouver is Canada’s largest and North America’s most diversified port, moving more cargo than the next five largest Canadian ports combined. Connecting Canada to more than 170 international markets, the port is a critical gateway for Canadian trade—with over 85% of the cargo handled by its 29 major terminals and 1,000-plus tenants in 2025 supporting commerce beyond the U.S.
International trade surged by 11% in 2025 to hit a record 147 MMT, with more than three-quarters of international volumes passing through the port going to or coming from Indo-Pacific countries. The top trading partners through the port in 2025 were China (36% of total international volumes), Japan (13%) and South Korea (9%).
Record volumes of key commodities exported
Strong cargo volumes moving through the port last year were underpinned by banner performances across the bulk sector, which is 98% export driven. Overall bulk volumes grew 11% to reach a record 130.7 MMT in 2025, including:
- Bulk grain exports hit a new record of 30.3 MMT on the back of strong wheat exports, which were up 20% compared to 2024 to hit a record of 15.9 MMT. Wheat grown in Western Canada was delivered to 35 countries last year, including communities throughout the Indo-Pacific, Europe, Central America and Middle East regions.
- Fertilizer exports through the port surged 21% in 2025, as Western Canadian potash (up 28% compared to 2024) and sulphur (up 5%) reached diverse world markets including Brazil, China and Indonesia. Potash exports hit a new record of 10.5 MMT last year, breaking the previous record set in 2020.
- Crude oil exports doubled in 2025 to reach a record 24.4 MMT, as the Trans Mountain expansion enabled Alberta oilsands producers to grow exports to markets in China and South Korea. Crude oil is now one of the single largest export commodities moving through the port.
Image
- Canola oil exports reached new and growing overseas markets in 2025, as the port enabled Western Canadian farmers and crushing operations to diversify beyond traditional trading partners China and the U.S. This growth was led by South Korea (up 37%), Peru (up 217%) and included nine other countries that saw no canola oil exports in 2024. Exports to China and the U.S. accounted for two-thirds of 2025’s volume, despite a combined decrease of 2%.
The strong performances across most bulk products offset a fall in bulk exports of coal and canola seed, with canola seed falling sharply from August onwards following Chinese tariffs to end the year down 23% at 6.6 MMT.
“We are already seeing encouraging signs that canola seed exports through the Port of Vancouver are recovering following a trade deal signed by Canada and China in January, and are optimistic early year data will show a rebound in volumes,” said Xotta.
The Port of Vancouver handled about 50% of Canada’s total canola seed exports last year.
Record year for container sector, as long-term growth continues
Containerized cargo hit a new record in 2025, with the Port of Vancouver’s four container terminals handling 3.8 million 20-foot equivalent units (or TEUs)—9% higher than 2024 and 3% higher than the previous record set in 2021 (3.7 million TEUs). The results were underpinned by Canadian demand, with record containerized imports (laden inbound up 5%) and containerized export volumes continuing their post-pandemic recovery (laden outbound up 3%).
Containers moved everything from exports of high-quality Canadian grain, food and forestry products to imports of household goods for Canadian families as well as machinery and manufacturing inputs destined for businesses across the country.
“Containerized trade through the port remains strong and continues to be driven by resilient Canadian demand,” said Xotta. “As Canada prepares to double non-U.S. exports, the container sector has a vital role to play as the preferred method for delivering high-value Canadian goods securely and reliably to international markets. Roberts Bank Terminal 2 remains the nation-building project Canada needs to thrive in today’s dynamic geopolitical climate.”
Strong year for auto sector, while cruise and breakbulk ease
Auto volumes moving through the port reached a new record in 2025 at almost 480,000 vehicles, up 2% compared to the previous record set in 2024. Nearly 100% of Canada’s Asian-manufactured vehicle imports arrive via the Port of Vancouver, with recent work at the Annacis Auto Terminal increasing its capacity and ensuring the port is well-placed to handle future market growth.
Vancouver’s cruise sector also had a strong season despite easing following 2024’s record year, with 300 cruise ship calls and 1.2 million passenger visits between March and October 2025. Each cruise ship visit to the Canada Place terminal injects an average of $3 million into the economy.
“We continue to see strong demand for Alaska as a premier cruise destination and Vancouver as a premier cruise homeport,” said Xotta. “Cruise operations at the Port of Vancouver help power the Canadian economy and last year was no different, with cruise lines and their passengers delivering a welcome boost to local restaurants, retail shops and tourist attractions.”
Foreign breakbulk volumes, mainly comprising woodpulp exports and metals imports, were stable in 2025.
Background
- Overall cargo volumes increased 8% to 170.4 MMT, compared to 2024. International volumes were up 11% to 147.0 MMT—including exports growing 12% to 127.5 MMT—while domestic volumes were down 12% to 23.4 MMT.
- Container quantities increased 9% to 3.78 million TEUs, including imports (laden inbound) up 5% to 1.91 million TEUs and exports (laden outbound) up 3% to 816,000 TEUs.
- Bulk liquid tonnage increased 54% to 33.7 MMT. Petroleum products increased 59% to 30.6 MMT including crude oil exports growing 95% to 24.4 MMT. Canola oil exports increased 26% to 1.2 MMT.
- Bulk dry cargo increased 1% to 97.0 MMT, including grain up 4% to 30.3 MMT and coal down 5% to 39.9 MMT. Fertilizer was up 21% to 14.0 MMT, including potash up 28% to 10.5 MMT and sulphur up 5% to 3.5 MMT.
- Auto volumes increased 2% to almost 480,000 units.
- Cruise passenger visits decreased 11% to 1.2 million, while cruise ship visits were down 8% at 300.
- Breakbulk cargo was down 15% to 12.9 MMT, with foreign breakbulk up 1% at 1.9 MMT and domestic breakbulk down 18% at 11.0 MMT.
Significant investment in gateway underway in 2025
- Procurement for the landmass and wharf is underway for Roberts Bank Terminal 2, with a preferred construction team to be selected in the summer. The future container terminal will create new industrial land, unlock $100 billion in additional annual trade capacity on Canada’s west coast and create tens of thousands of jobs.
- First Nations consultation, public engagement and regulatory reviews are underway on plans to dredge a section of Burrard Inlet east of Second Narrows to improve shipping efficiency, including facilitating the potential for vessels calling at Trans Mountain’s Westridge Marine Terminal to more fully load.
- LNG bunkering operations started at the port in 2025 through approved supplier Seaspan Energy, with nearly 40 visiting container, cargo and cruise ships re-fueling with the alternative fuel to date. LNG bunkering is an important step towards the safe introduction of other alternative fuels like ammonia and methanol.
- The port authority is partnering with the federal government to expand shore power at the Canada Place cruise terminal, allowing more cruise ships to plug into B.C.’s low-emission electrical grid and preventing an additional 3,300 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per cruise season starting in 2027.
- DP World will launch the port’s first dedicated short-sea shipping facility in summer 2026, connecting the port to facilities on Vancouver Island and boosting trade resiliency and fluidity.
- Global Container Terminals (GCT) is investing $170 million to upgrade ship-to-shore cranes at Deltaport, with two new Megamax STS cranes installed in 2025 to replace smaller legacy cranes. A total of six new cranes will be installed—providing safe, reliable and flexible operations for the largest container vessels calling the West Coast.
- Work continues upgrading Westshore terminal in Delta so it can export 4.5 MMT of potash annually and support BHP’s Jansen mine in Saskatchewan, which will be the largest potash mine in the world when complete.
- The port authority completed the port-wide implementation of Active Vessel Traffic Management in late 2025, with the system now coordinating and optimizing thousands of annual ship transits across the port.
- Construction is half-way complete on the Holdom overpass in Burnaby to enhance rail service to the North Shore, while improving traffic flow and safety for the community.
- Optimization of the Annacis Auto Terminal was completed in partnership with terminal operator Wallenius Wilhelmsen in early 2025, boosting the terminal’s capacity by one-third.
- DP World Fraser Surrey opened a new facility in September 2025 that will enable the export of approximately 1 MMT of Canadian canola oil annually.
