As the Canadian economy engages in a pronounced post-pandemic recovery, following the largest contraction for decades in 2020, as is activity in the breakbulk sector of Canadian ports showing renewed dynamism.
As the Canadian demonstrators blocking access to the vital Ambassador Bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario entered a fourth day with no end in sight, the bilateral trade impact of the protest movement against COVID-19 measures is rapidly escalating.
After torrential rains called the ‘storm of the century’ hammered British Columbia’s southern interior in mid-November, submerging many communities and critical rail and road links with Canada’s largest port, the supply chain crisis appears to be getting from bad to worse, with the third rainstorm that began Wednesday.
In both western and eastern Canada, breakbulk activity is on the rise – as seen in strong shipments of steel, forest products and construction materials as well as wind energy components. The overall project cargo sector is re-bounding from production delays and other pandemic-related challenges.
At a technical briefing this week, the Port of Montreal updated the procurement process that national or international consortiums need to follow in seeking to partner with Canada’s second largest maritime gateway in its biggest project in decades
From its base in Cambridge, southwestern Ontario, Pinnacle Logistics Solutions relies on the Great Lakes region for a substantial portion of its business. But its reach stretches to much of North America and this past summer a joint venture in the Western Arctic added a still wider dimension – quite an achievement for an enterprise with just 16 employees.
With breakbulk activity already posting robust trends at key Canadian ports, the project cargo outlook is showing evidence of beginning to bounce back from equipment-production delays and other pandemic-related challenges.
A year ago at this time, the great majority of Canadian ports were suffering cargo declines as the devastating COVID-19 was in full flight and the global economy was being hammered by the worst downturn in decades.
While most of the battle between CP and CN is being played out in the U.S., a significant question looms large: What’s in it for Canadian shippers? John Corey, head of the Freight Management Association of Canada shares his opinion of what this merger might mean for Canadian shippers.
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