Cargo figures show positive signs that the Port of Vancouver is helping put Canada on a path to increase non-U.S. exports and reduce dependence on American trade
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The tide of Canadian exports flowing through the Port of Vancouver, particularly grain and crude oil, rose three per cent to a new record of 88 million tonnes through the first half of 2026, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority reported Monday.
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How much the increase represents a shift in trade patterns remains “the $64,000 question,” according to Peter Xotta, CEO of the port authority.
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However, in the context of federal objectives to reduce reliance on the U.S. by increasing exports elsewhere, there are signs that shipments are moving in the right direction.
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FP West: Energy Insider
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“Pretty clearly, I would say (in) broad strokes, Canadian agriculture is going to continue to grow, and they are on the forefront of probably developing some of the new markets that our federal leadership want to encourage,” Xotta said.
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“That and energy products (are) obviously the other one. So those two are probably leading the way in terms of market development, market penetration.”
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Trade figures were helped by a bumper crop on the Canadian prairies, but the port authority reported a 14 per cent boom in bulk shipments of canola seed, barley and specialty crops, which hit 17.4 million tonnes in the first half of the year.
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According to the port authority, exports to China, Mexico, Pakistan and even Europe increased sharply, and shipments of specialty crops such as peas and lentils going to customers in India, China and Bangladesh almost tripled.
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From Canada’s increased capacity to export oil from Trans Mountain’s Westridge terminal, primarily Alberta oilsands crude, the port also saw a new record of some 12 million tonnes of exports over the first six months.
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And Trans Mountain recorded somewhat higher volumes heading to Asia-Pacific destinations such as China and South Korea, and somewhat less being sent to U.S. West Coast refineries.
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According to the port authority, 80 per cent of shipments went to destinations in Asia, mostly China and South Korea, but with amounts going to Japan and a first-ever shipment to Indonesia in April. However, U.S. oil exports shrank to about one-fifth of Trans-Mountain’s output from about one-third a year ago.
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Not all commodities saw increased exports. Steel-making coal shipments shrank 16 per cent to 10.6 million tonnes, compared with almost 13 million tonnes for the first half of 2025. Potash shipments, at 5.1 million tonnes, were slightly down from 5.2 million tonnes a year ago.
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The port characterized the figures as “steady,” and Xotta said unique factors contributed to some of those results. For coal, he added that “the variability there is not a concern.”
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“We know that there’s long-term demand for Canadian metallurgical coal, and we’ve got to make sure that we’ve got the capacity to handle it,” Xotta said.
