Connecting Canada to the world
In 2017, the Port of Vancouver handled 3.25 million TEUs of marine containers at its four container terminals, representing an estimated 51 per cent of Canada’s off shore container trade.
The Port of Vancouver provides Canada with the ability to export and import goods in shipping containers to and from about 170 trading economies worldwide, the largest of which are China, Japan and Korea.
Led by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project would play an important role in being ready to support Canadian businesses shipping goods to and from markets, and ensuring we can keep Canada open and competitive for trade with growing economies around the world
Canada—the trading nation
Canada has a long history as a trading nation. For thousands of years, the Coast Salish Peoples had complex systems for trade and commerce in the Salish Sea, Burrard Inlet and the Fraser River, long before European explorers recognized the area as an ideal deep-water port.
Canada’s trade ambitions remain strong. The future of Canada’s economic prosperity depends on being able to get goods and resources to and from other markets efficiently and reliably, a sentiment echoed by governments at all levels.
Ongoing access to foreign markets is also critical to small and medium-sized businesses, which represent more than half of Canada’s economic output and produce 25% of the total value of Canadian exports.
The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project will serve container ships bringing a wide variety of goods including items such as clothing, electronics, food, furniture and household goods. The terminal will also serve overseas markets, shipping export containers loaded with a range of Canadian goods including pulp, lumber, crops, grain, and specialty items like craft beer.
Container traffic to and from the West Coast is growing
As part of our work to ensure there is enough space for growing trade on Canada’s west coast, the port authority has commissioned a series of independent, expert third-party container traffic forecasts that consider long-term trends in global markets and trade, as well as a range of other drivers of container traffic demand. The findings of these forecasts conclude that container traffic to and from the West Coast is expected to grow significantly, well into the future.
Based on our container traffic and capacity forecasts, the entire capacity of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project is needed to ensure Canada is able to meet trade plans and objectives through to the mid-to-late 2030s.
The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project
Get an in-depth look at the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project.
Learn about the global container shipping industry, what exactly is a TEU, what do containers carry, the components of the project, how the project will connect with road and rail during operations, and a summary of its current status in the environmental review process.