Surging bulk grain and crude oil shipments helped the Port of Vancouver set record cargo totals for the six months ended June 30.
The Story
Freight volumes through the Port of Vancouver climbed in the first half of 2026, with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority attributing record cargo totals largely to higher exports of bulk grain and crude oil.
For the six months ended June 30, port authority figures show freight volume rose three per cent year over year as cargo totals increased across the terminals that move goods in and out of Vancouver’s harbour.
Bulk grain exports posted the largest increase, rising 14 per cent to a record 17.4 million tonnes, according to the federal agency reporting on port performance.
Crude oil exports also reached a record level, increasing three per cent year over year to 12 million tonnes, as energy shipments continued to move through Vancouver terminals.
The port authority said a significant share of these commodity shipments were bound for the Indo-Pacific, pointing to demand across East Asia for Canadian supplies.
In its breakdown of destinations, the authority said China, Europe and Mexico imported canola seed, while East Asia took in Alberta crude, reflecting the mix of agricultural and energy markets served by Vancouver’s export channels.
The shift is framed as part of a broader attempt to reduce dependence on the United States, with the port authority citing more protectionist U.S. policy.
Port authority chief executive Peter Xotta said the goal is to help Canada double exports to non-U.S. markets within a decade, and noted that America accounted for about a fifth of crude exports through Vancouver terminals versus roughly one-third the year before.
Alongside bulk commodities, other cargo categories also rose: auto volumes through the port increased 10 per cent year over year in the first half of 2026 as carmakers looked for alternatives to the U.S. market.
The port authority’s latest figures position Vancouver as a key gateway for Canadian exports during a period of changing trade dynamics, with higher volumes in both agricultural and energy streams adding to the scale of freight moving through Metro Vancouver’s port facilities.
← More stories