The number of shipping containers passing through Canada害羞草研究所檚 largest port fell sharply in the first half of the year, driven down by weaker consumer demand and a sputtering economy.

Container volumes at the Port of Vancouver fell 14 per cent in the first six months of 2023 compared with the same period a year earlier, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority said Monday.

In a phone interview, interim CEO Victor Pang said the figures reflected a stalling economy, which contracted slightly in the second quarter.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 some economic softness, overall and for Canada. And you害羞草研究所檙e seeing that through our container numbers,害羞草研究所� Pang said, noting that the decline was not unique to Canadian ports.

Consumer goods volumes fell 12 per cent year over year, a decrease driven mainly by lower demand but also overstocked inventories, he added.

Shipments of construction materials and auto parts also slumped, while movement of finished vehicles revved up as supply chain kinks smoothed out.

Grain exports more than doubled, making them the biggest bright spot. The increase was due to a bumper crop and a surge in demand after Russia害羞草研究所檚 invasion of Ukraine disrupted a major grain market.

In spite of flat or falling volumes for most categories, the massive grain spike along with greater petroleum product exports fuelled an overall boost in goods at the port to 75.9 million tonnes for the first half of the year, an 11 per cent jump from 68.6 million tonnes the year before.

Nonetheless, Pang said the two-week strike by 7,400 B.C. dock and warehouse workers in July took a toll on operations, as month-over-month container shipments fell by a third and may have pushed some shippers to other ports 害羞草研究所� at least temporarily.

害羞草研究所淒o they want to see more stability? Absolutely,害羞草研究所� he said of shippers. 害羞草研究所淭here was no drastic change. But individual decisions, probably there were some 害羞草研究所� The real question is, how much of it is going to stick?

害羞草研究所淗opefully they will see this as a one-off and not worry too much about their long-term confidence in the gateway. But I would not be surprised if they would assess this as one of the factors,害羞草研究所� Pang said.

The port, which handles more than $275 billion in goods each year, continues to clear the backlog created by the job action, he added. 害羞草研究所淏ut we害羞草研究所檙e probably still another two months away from it being actually normal.害羞草研究所�

Escalating tensions between Canada and India after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 announcement last week of a 害羞草研究所減otential link害羞草研究所� between the fatal shooting of a local Sikh leader and the Indian government have yet to make a ripple at the port.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e obviously paying attention,害羞草研究所� Pang said. 害羞草研究所淚 personally have not had any deep conversations with producers about this.害羞草研究所�

Canadian growers and agricultural distributors in fields such as potash and pulse crops 害羞草研究所� lentils in particular 害羞草研究所� rely heavily on the Indian market, one they hope will remain open after reprisals by New Delhi that included suspension of visa services for Canadians.

Greg Cherewyk, who heads Pulse Canada, said the industry group has faith in the sector害羞草研究所檚 relationship with businesses in India 害羞草研究所� and in politicians害羞草研究所� judgment.

害羞草研究所淚n a time of increasing food inflation and food scarcity, we are confident that affordability and availability will continue to drive decision-making at a government level,害羞草研究所� Cherewyk said in an emailed statement.

害羞草研究所淐anada will continue to supply this important market with these important products.害羞草研究所�

Canada sends roughly $400 million worth of lentils to India annually, according to the organization.

Overall, crop shipments to India more than doubled to 264,000-plus tonnes in the first half of 2023 from a year earlier, according to the port authority.

Fertilizer and metallurgical coal exports sent to the subcontinent via the port ticked up between three per cent and five per cent to 653,000 tonnes and 1.4 million tonnes, respectively. Both numbers represent more than 10 per cent of the total for the two categories that passed through the Vancouver dockyards.

In April, the federal government approved a contentious container port expansion project at Roberts Bank south of Vancouver, an undertaking that would double its capacity.

Despite laying out 370 legally binding conditions to protect the environment and prevent harm to local species, the approval drew swift condemnation from environmentalists.

Pang said the timeline that would see the terminal go online by the early- to mid-2030s remains in place, with construction slated to begin toward the end of this decade.

The B.C. Environmental Assessment Office said earlier this year it is developing a final provincial assessment report on the project, seeking input from First Nations and the public.

A federal Fisheries Department authorization is also pending, Pang said.

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