Richardson International Limited realizes best year ever in Hamilton

Hamilton’s emergence as a key port for grain handling has
grown with its terminal capacity development and increasingly
diverse mix of crops. After arriving from across the province
of Ontario and western Canada via truck and railcar,
agricultural commodities land in the Port of Hamilton for
storage and further transit to a host of international markets. Winnipeg,
Manitoba-based Richardson International Limited is a worldwide
handler and merchandiser of major Canadian-grown grains and oilseeds
and has held a presence in Hamilton for more than a decade. With over
1,600 employees across Canada and a major footprint in Ontario, it is
committed to growing the sector for the port and the entire Seaway System.
The year 2010 saw a 38% spike in tonnage over the
Richardson Hamilton terminal’s previous high in 2006.
Ontario’s exceptional yield and crop quality last year,
combined with drought and flooding conditions in several
growing global regions, created opportunities for Eastern
Canada to serve additional export markets not normally
open to commodities originating in Ontario. Seaway System
traffic flows complement the Hamilton grain trade well, with
both domestic laker and oceangoing project fleets carrying
export grain from the region. Connectivity to other modes
in Hamilton include transfer via truck and railcar moving a
mix of wheat, corn, soybeans and other agricultural
commodities; demonstrating the strategic benefit of utilizing
the port’s multimodal facilities.
Richardson was the first terminal development at Eastport
in the late 1990s, adding silo capacity and moving its Ontario
headquarters to the port over the course of the past six
years. The Pier 25 terminal location serves incoming truck
traffic with direct connectivity to major series highway lanes.
The recent addition of storage bins to the terminal has
proven instrumental in allowing the company to handle
multiple commodities simultaneously and capitalize on spot
freight market opportunities as they become available. Cargo
consolidation has also created loading efficiencies and enabled broader
market reach. “We are proud to have grown our business in Eastern
Canada in partnership with the Port of Hamilton,” said Richardson
International president Curt Vossen.
“We have developed a strong export business that is benefiting the port
and producers in southern Ontario, giving them improved
access to world markets.”
service packaging.
“Richardson’s success showcases its ability to adapt to
market conditions and leverage opportunities created by
these market forces,” notes HPA president and CEO Bruce
Wood. “It highlights the ability of the port and its partners to
plan and position for future opportunities.” Terminal
operators have chosen Hamilton for its cost-saving potential,
prime location and facilities that efficiently serve traffic from
all modes. Higher-than-average grain movements are forecast
for the early part of the 2011 navigation season, due to
significant carryover of the 2010 crop. This points to what is
expected to be another very positive year for Hamilton grain
movements.