REGIONAL REPORT
The Port of Montréal: continuous investment in infrastructure Aerial view of the CanEst facilities at the Port of Montréal.
AUGUST 2021
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The Port of Montréal is a diversified hub handling all types of cargo: dry bulk, liquid bulk, containerized, breakbulk and oversized cargo. Located 1,600 kilometres inland from the Atlantic coast and at the centre of a fully integrated rail, road and pipeline network, the Port of Montréal is an essential link in the supply chain of the major consumer markets in Eastern Canada, the US Midwest and Northeast.
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DRY CARGO & BREAKBULK FACILITIES A hub for dry bulk cargo handling, the Port of Montréal is a vital gateway for raw materials such as iron ore and salt minerals for roads, as well as gypsum, gravel, raw sugar and other products. The 12 dry bulk berths in Montréal and Contrecoeur as well as direct access to the CN and CP rail networks give the port a competitive advantage for shipping goods. Logistec Stevedoring is the operator for general bulk. The Port of Montréal is also a hub for grain exports, with companies Viterra Inc and CanEst Transit Inc operating at the port. Its large cargo capacity makes the Port of Montréal grain elevator one of the fastest and most efficient on the Saint
Lawrence River. Its year-round operations and ability to accommodate unit trains allow the facility to maintain links with international markets at all times. The Port of Montréal also has a facility dedicated to the containerization, storage, cleaning, sifting and packaging of agricultural products. This facility is strategically located near the container terminals. More than 4mt (million tonnes) of grains in bulk transit every year through the Port of Montréal’s elevator. Containerized grains account also for more than 1mt every year. This segment of bulk containerized cargo has been growing in the past few years thanks to the port’s rail connections and to partnership with local partners that are able to transload bulk grain from railcars to containers. Montréal is becoming more and more a hub for exports of agricultural products from the Canadian and American farmers. In terms of non-containerized cargo, Port of Montréal partners have experienced teams that can securely handle all types of breakbulk, general and oversized cargo. Breakbulk, general and oversized cargoes are handled efficiently at
the port, with both Logistec Stevedoring and Stevedoring Empire as experienced and expert operators to handle these cargoes. The Port of Montréal operates its own network of direct access on-dock rail, with close to 100km (60mi.) of track. Trains are worked directly alongside bulk berths and storage areas. This on-dock rail system is connected to major North American markets through both Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP) networks.
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS INCLUDE: v construction of two new rollercompacted concrete (RCC) pads increasing open storage capacity (2019); and v increasing rail capacity by 20% (construction will take place from 2022 to 2024).
PORT IN NUMBERS: v 60–80 trains a week; v Post Panamax ready: since 2013, the Port of Montréal has been able to accommodate vessels of 300m x 44m; v on average, the port handles 9mt of dry bulk per year.
