Gains in exports were offset by declines in imports led to the Canadian Port of Vancouver posting minor total cargo volume growth in March.
The port handled a total of 184,836 TEUs in March, a 2.5 percent increase over March 2010--making this March the port's weakest monthly total volume in the past 12 months.
While the port's March numbers remained in positive total growth territory when compared to the same month last year, cargo statistics show a downward trend in imports over the first three months of the year and an inverse upward trend for exports during the same period.
On the import side, Vancouver officials reported handling a total of 84,250 loaded inbound TEUs in March, a 1.3 percent decline compared to the year-ago period. March import numbers were the lowest monthly import numbers at the port since June 2009.
In the export column, the port posted a total of 80,419 loaded outbound TEUs in March, an 8 percent increase over the same month last year. Monthly export volumes have grown 13.6 percent in the January to March period.
The port moved a total of 576,711 TEUs in the first quarter, a 9.9 percent increase over the first three months of 2010.
Friday, April 22, 2011
