Canada's West Coast Ports Handle 409 Billion Dollars of Cargo
Nearly half of Canada's trade with markets outside North America moves through three ports
Canada's West Coast ports are carrying a growing share of the country's effort to build trade outside North America, according to a newly released study sponsored by the ports themselves.
The Economic Impact of West Coast Ports study, released on 26 August, found that British Columbia's maritime gateways at Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Nanaimo handled more than 200 million metric tonnes of cargo in 2025, worth C$409bn. Of that, C$270bn was Canada's trade with overseas trading partners, or nearly half of the country's trade with markets outside North America.
The ports move cargo to global customers in more than 170 overseas markets, handling a mix that runs from bulk exports of energy, forestry products, potash, grain and critical minerals to two-way container trade and imports of Asian-made vehicles, manufacturing parts and household goods.
Not included in the study, but a further contributor, is the opening of Canada's LNG export terminal. It is the only North American Pacific Coast LNG terminal, offers a shorter distance to Asian markets and removes the need to transit the Panama Canal. Others are expected to follow.
"West Coast ports like Vancouver have an outsized role to play as Canada looks to double exports to non-U.S. markets over the next 10 years in support of a thriving national economy," said Peter Xotta, president and chief executive of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
The Port of Vancouver operates 29 major deep-water terminals across five sectors: auto, bulk, breakbulk, container and cruise. To the north, Prince Rupert handles raw materials and containers, while Nanaimo, 30 nautical miles from Vancouver, supports containers, auto, bulk, breakbulk, cruise and logistics services.
Government commitments extend to both coasts. Speaking on 24 August, Prime Minister Mark Carney pointed to the expansion of the Port of Montreal at Contrecoeur with a new container terminal, and to work at the Port of Quebec.
On the Pacific side, Vancouver officials point to the planned Roberts Bank Terminal 2 to expand container capacity, alongside a new federal gateway strategy under development. Prince Rupert points to C$3bn in port works under way that will expand capacity and support diversification.
