Port of Montreal started the new year with hopes of another record for cargo traffic as Canada's free trade agreement with Europe starts to bear fruit.
The second-largest Canadian port anticipates cargo traffic increasing about 4% after ending last year up almost 7% at a record 38M tonnes.
2017 marked the first full year of operations for the new container terminal which will eventually handle 600,000 TEUs per year. The port is now pushing for approval of another terminal which would accommodate 1.15 million TEU containers annually starting in 2021 or 2022.
Port of Montreal also comes off a record year for cruises with anticipation of growing the business by another 14% to 130,000 passengers in 2018. Over 50 ship arrivals brought over 114,000 passengers to the port city last year, up 33% over 2016 and up 140% compared with 2011.