The Port of Montreal continues its momentum, recording higher growth than its competitors at the end of the third quarter

Montreal, November 5, 2008 - At the end of September 2008, container traffic at the Port of Montreal recorded a cumulative growth of 10.1 % in comparison to the same period last year, amounting to slightly more than 10.1 million tonnes.

In the number of TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) for the period from January to September 2008, Montreal’s growth reached 9.9 % against the same period in 2007, setting it at close to 1,117,000 TEUs.

Preliminary data for the first eight months of the year collected by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) show that the Port of Montreal posted, irrespective of shipping lanes, an 8.4% growth in containers, the highest growth of all its North American competitors, including Halifax and Vancouver.

This confirms the Port of Montreal’s position as leader, in terms of growth, compared to its competitors on the North American East Coast, four out of seven of which even posted declines.

“These results are good news for the Montreal region, for the province of Quebec and for Canada,” stated Patrice M. Pelletier, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Montreal Port Authority, “as the Port represented, in 2007, an added value of $1.5 billion.”


About the Montreal Port Authority
The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) operates the world's largest inland port. It is a leader among container ports, handling 26 million tonnes of cargo annually. In 2007, the Port of Montreal handled a total of 1,363,021 container TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit). The MPA operates its own rail network, providing direct access to berths, and is linked to two major railways and a highway system. It also operates a grain terminal and a marine passenger terminal. All other terminals are operated by private stevedoring firms.

Through its activities, the Port of Montreal generates 18,200 jobs and $1.5 billion in economic spin-offs.

Montreal Port Authority press release