Halfway into the 2021 shipping season, HOPA Ports has seen notable increase in dry bulk cargoes coming through the ports of Hamilton and Oshawa, especially aggregates feeding construction projects around the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). Construction-related materials such as cement, gypsum, quartz, sand and stone are surging through both ports, and HOPA’s total tonnages are up by over 1mt (million metric tonnes) from the same time last year, suggesting stronger results by the year’s end.
 
“The construction sector is heating up across the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area, and we’re seeing that demand for construction materials reflected in our very healthy cargo results,” said Ian Hamilton, President & CEO of HOPA Ports.
 
The global demand for Ontario-grown grain continues as well, with more than 700,000 metric tonnes exported already by the end of June.
 
HOPA Ports continues to expand storage, berthing space and export capacity for terminal operators, manufacturers and logistics companies that carry dry bulk in both locations. In Hamilton, a new agri-food cluster in progress at Pier 10 will provide additional space and infrastructure for sugar and grain. As part of its Westport Modernization, new food-grade warehousing at Pier 15 will now allow for more efficient storage and handling of bulk cargo and food products, in close proximity to the US/Canada border.
 
 
In June, Hamilton Container Terminal, in partnership with HOPA and Desgagnés, launched a container feeder service between Hamilton and Montreal, that will accommodate specialty agricultural products and edible oils. Upon arrival at the Port of Montreal, most of the containers are transloaded onto oceangoing vessels, destined for overseas markets in Europe, India and the Middle East.
 
On the other side of Lake Ontario, HOPA is in the progress of dredging Oshawa harbour to enable its tenants to take full advantage of the berthing space available. HOPA is in the midst of finishing up a Land Use Plan, in consultation with the community, that will guide the Port of Oshawa’s future growth.