Freight News, Logistics, Sea

Vancouver USA Posts Cargo Record 170M Tonnes

[ May 19, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority reported record cargo volumes in 2025, driven by surging exports of crude oil, grain and potash, as Canada’s largest gateway expanded trade ties with Indo-Pacific markets.

The Port of Vancouver handled a record 170.4 million tonnes of cargo in 2025, up nearly 8 percent from the previous high set in 2024, according to annual statistics released in March and highlighted in the port authority’s annual report and public video presentation.

Container traffic also reached a new high, with the port’s four container terminals processing 3.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), up 9 percent year over year and surpassing the previous record set in 2021.

Port officials said growth was fueled by strong international demand for Canadian commodities and continued diversification away from U.S.-focused trade flows.

“These record volumes demonstrate the continued importance of the Port of Vancouver in enabling Canadian trade and connecting Canadian businesses with global markets,” said Peter Xotta, president and CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.

Bulk cargo volumes rose 11 percent to a record 130.7 million tonnes, led by grain exports of 30.3 million tonnes and crude oil exports that doubled to 24.4 million tonnes following expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline system. Potash exports climbed 28 percent to a record 10.5 million tonnes.

International trade volumes increased 11 percent overall, with more than three-quarters of cargo moving to or from Indo-Pacific markets including China, Japan and South Korea.

Vehicle imports also hit a record, with nearly 480,000 autos moving through the gateway in 2025, while foreign breakbulk cargo volumes remained generally stable.

The port authority said infrastructure investment remains a priority as cargo growth continues, including the proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 container expansion project, which officials describe as critical to future Canadian trade capacity.

Tags: Vancouver Fraser Port Authority