Overall cargo tonnage at Port Saint John for the year 2021 was 28,822,218 metric tonnes (MT), an 11% increase over 2020.

In the container sector, both TEUs and tonnage experienced year-over-year increases in 2021, with TEUs increasing to 86,949 TEUs (10% over 2020) and tonnage increasing to 617,312 MT (6% over 2020). This is the fifth consecutive year of growth in the container sector at Port Saint John.

Several major developments occurred in 2020 and 2021 that will continue to positively impact container cargo at Port Saint John. These are:

  • The continuation of the $205 million West Side Modernization Project construction which launched early in 2020 and which is due to be complete in 2023 in funding partnership with the Government of Canada, Province of New Brunswick, and Port Saint John.
  • The launch of CP Rail’s East Coast Advantage strategy and rail services through acquisition and improvement of the former CMQR line in the State of Maine, solidifying Port Saint John as the only Atlantic Canadian port with two Class I national rail providers, including CN Rail. And,
  • The presence of weekly services from 3 of the world’s leading container lines: MSC, CMA CGM, and Hapag Lloyd.

“Operating in a sustainable manner, together with our stakeholders and partners, is our key focus at Port Saint John. We do this to ensure our shared growth has the most positive impact for our community, Province, and Canada. Last year was a strong year for cargo traffic at Port Saint and for our various operators and partners. With the completion of the new, deeper pier on the West Side in early 2023, together we look forward to continued growth in the cargo sector. While this was the second year without cruise, tremendous efforts were undertaken over the past 2 years across the industry to safely re-introduce cruise. At Port Saint John we are ready to do our part in ensuring cruise is safely resumed in our community later in 2022,” said Craig Bell Estabrooks, President & CEO of Port Saint John.

In other cargo sectors, dry bulk cargoes increased by 123% to 1,907,875 MT. The increase in this sector was driven primarily by two commodities: potash and recycled metals. Potash experienced an increase from 619,203 MT in 2020 to 1,653,750 MT in 2021. Recycled metals experienced an increase from 174,471 MT in 2020 to 254,125 MT in 2021. The liquid bulk sector experienced an increase of 7%, driven primarily by increased export petroleum products.

Port Saint John Cargo and Cruise Statistics

2017-2021

  2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
Dry Bulk  1,907,875 MT  854,243 MT  649,272 MT  1,459,308 MT  1,932,868 MT 
Liquid Bulk  26,295,562 MT  24,547,201 MT  24,226,147 MT  23,180,222 MT  28,101,794 MT 
Break Bulk  1,465 MT  2,935 MT  7,209 MT  7,805 MT  33,519 MT 
Containers  617,312 MT  580,270 MT  489,546 MT  421,456 MT  390,237 MT 
TEUs  86,949 TEUs  79,179 TEUs  68,901 TEUs  59,000 TEUs  57,402 TEUs 
Total Port  28,822,218 MT  25,984,654 MT  25,372,180 MT  25,068,798 MT  30,458.422 MT 
Vessels  919 805 857 858 927