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Despite a big jump in grain traffic, the Port of Montreal’s total cargo volume fell significantly in the first half. The port handled 10.9 million tons of cargo, down 15.4 percent compared with first-half 2008 volume.

Containerized cargo totaled slightly more than 5.4 million tons, an 18.4 percent year-over-year decline. Full and empty 20-foot equivalent unit volume tumbled 14.6 percent to 619,721, according to the port, which operates its own rail network that connects with CN and Canadian Pacific lines.
 
"The downturns we have experienced in containerized cargo and dry bulk, such as iron, zinc and copper, are due to difficulties in the manufacturing sectors of Ontario and the American Midwest, which were still being hit by the recession in the first half," said Sylvie Vachon, president and chief executive officer of the Montreal Port Authority, in a prepared statement.

However, the port’s grain traffic continued to be strong through the first half, jumping 31.1 percent gain to 1.2 million tons (including rail, road and marine volumes).