MarketsFarm — Grain shipments through the Port of Thunder Bay are running well ahead of the year-ago level, with 3.747 million tonnes of grain shipped through the port on the northern shores of Lake Superior as of Aug. 31.
That was up by 1.1 million tonnes from the previous year’s pace, but slightly behind the five-year average, according to an update from the port authority. Grain movement in August came in at 608,406 tonnes, which compares with 502,502 tonnes in August 2022.
Potash and general cargo shipments were also described as strong, although year-to-date levels for both at 775,014 tonnes and 20,966 tonnes respectively were down slightly from 2022.
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Total cargo movement at the Port of Thunder Bay through Aug. 31, at 4.934 million tonnes, was up from 3.964 million tonnes the previous year due to the increase in grain movement.
The Keefer Terminal also had steady inbound vessel traffic during August and the first week of September, with shipments of bulk fertilizer, steel pipe, steel rail and machinery. The terminal is experiencing its best year to date for steel, with regular shipments continuing through the fall, the report said.
Total vessel traffic in the Port of Thunder Bay increased by 50 vessels as of Aug. 31, year-over-year.
