North Vancouver port exports hit 88 million tonnes mid-year, grain shipments surge 14 percent
Record Prairie crop yields and expanding global markets drive bumper shipments of canola, barley, lentils and peas through Port of Vancouver.
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The Port of Vancouver logged 88 million metric tonnes in exports year-to-date through mid-2026, with North Shore terminals handling 23.4 million tonnes — just over 25 percent of the port's overall cargo.
Bulk grain shipments led the surge, up about 14 percent in the first half of the year. Canola and barley drove the volume, shipped primarily through three North Shore terminals: G3, Richardson, and Vancouver Wharves. Record crop yields on the Prairies powered the increase, while demand from China, Europe, Mexico, and Pakistan remained strong.
Specialty crop exports—lentils and peas—told an even steeper story. Shipments to China and Bangladesh doubled, while exports to India nearly tripled.
Other commodities showed varied movement. Potash exports dipped 2 percent but held steady at about 5 million metric tonnes, with top destinations Brazil, Indonesia, and China. Other fertilizer components remained level at 7 million tonnes. Sulphur shipments rose 5 percent, driven by demand from fertilizer and industrial manufacturing sectors. Metallurgical coal exports, by contrast, fell 16 percent to 10.5 million tonnes—a planned, temporary reduction in mine production—with China, South Korea, and Japan as main customers.
Jeff Scott, vice president of operations and supply chain for the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, said the port is "looking at opportunities to grow and expand and create more capacity to move commodities to a larger group of trading partners globally." The port figures prominently in Ottawa's plan to diversify trade away from the United States, with a federal target to double export capacity within the next 10 years. In September, Canpotex announced a $500 million upgrade to the potash export facility at Neptune Terminals on the North Shore.
Will the surge in grain and specialty crop shipments continue into the second half of 2026?
How will the planned expansion of North Shore port capacity affect cargo volumes and regional employment?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
How much cargo did North Shore terminals handle in the first half of 2026?
North Shore terminals handled 23.4 million tonnes, representing just over 25 percent of the Port of Vancouver's overall exports year-to-date through mid-2026.
Which grain exports drove the 14 percent surge in bulk shipments?
Canola and barley drove the volume increase, shipped primarily through G3, Richardson, and Vancouver Wharves terminals on the North Shore.
How did specialty crop exports to Asia perform?
Lentil and pea shipments to China and Bangladesh doubled, while exports to India nearly tripled in the first half of 2026.
What upgrade did Canpotex announce for Neptune Terminals?
In September, Canpotex announced a $500 million upgrade to the potash export facility at Neptune Terminals on the North Shore.
