Port of Montreal - Traffic on the rise in the first quarter of 2010

MONTREAL, May 4 /CNW Telbec/ - Overall traffic at the Port of Montreal in the first quarter of 2010 was up 7.6% compared to the same period last year, today announced the Montreal Port Authority. The two main drivers of this growth are containerized cargo traffic and iron ore.

In fact, container traffic grew by 11.1% for the first three months of the year, from 2,636,080 tonnes to 2,927,394 tonnes. This traffic is with the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, which experienced the strongest growth with respective increases of 36.6% and 19.8%. Traffic with Northern Europe was on par with last year, with an increase of 0.1%.

Turning to the traffic of bulk goods, there was a total increase of 37% in dry bulk. Overall throughput at the grain terminal (ships, trains and trucks) in Q1 totalled 566,674 tonnes, up 10.8% over Q1 2009. Growth is most pronounced in iron ore, with a volume of 348,276 tonnes handled at the Contrecoeur Terminal compared to only 34,409 tonnes during the same period in 2009.

Bulk liquid dropped 13.4%, mainly due to a 17.5% decline in petroleum products.

"The growth of certain types of traffic in dry bulk, such as iron ore, along with growth in container traffic, would seem to indicate an upturn in economic activity," stated the President and CEO of the Montreal Port Authority, Ms. Sylvie Vachon. The Port's strong performance emphasizes the key role it occupies in the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes Trade Corridor, through which more than 70% of Canada's international trade transits.

About the Port of Montreal

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Operated by the Montreal Port Authority (MPA), the Port of Montreal is a leader among container ports, through which more than 24.5 million tonnes of cargo transited in 2009. More than 1,250,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) were handled at the Port of Montreal in 2009. The Port of Montreal owns its own rail network, operated directly on the piers. It is linked to two major railways and a highway system. The Port also operates a grain terminal and a marine passenger terminal. All other terminals are operated by private stevedoring firms. Port activity supports 18,200 jobs and generates $1.5 billion in economic spin-offs per year.

For further information: Communications Department, [email protected], [phone], Fax: [phone], www.port-montreal.com