More than 2.3 million metric tonnes of cargo transited through the Port of Toronto in 2023, providing the sugar for our coffee, the salt for our roads and the raw materials needed for Toronto’s booming construction industry – one of the busiest in North A

🚢💵 Port of Toronto Moves 2.3 Million Metric Tonnes of Cargo in 2023

Monday, 18 March 2024 02:10.AM

- Another strong year in marine imports and cruise ship activity highlights the important role the Port plays in Toronto's economy for tourism, trade and construction. -

The Port of Toronto moved more than 2.3 million metric tonnes of cargo and welcomed a record 45 cruise ships and nearly 18,000 visitors to its Cruise Ship Terminal in 2023. Another strong year in marine imports and cruise ship activity highlights the important role the Port plays in Toronto's economy by enabling the movement of goods and people, which in turns drives tourism and trade for the region.

Commercial Tonnage

The number of cargo ships visiting the Port of Toronto remained consistent in 2023, with 189 ships visiting the Port of Toronto and delivering a range of bulk, project and general cargo products totalling 2,311,616 metric tonnes.

In addition to importing 606,060 metric tonnes of sugar from Central and South America to support Toronto's food and beverage industry, the Port moved more than 685,661 metric tonnes of salt, much of which is used for Toronto's roads during the winter months. With construction in Toronto showing no signs of slowing down, the Port also moved 796,644 metric tonnes of cement (an 11 per cent increase over 2022), 97,016 metric tonnes of aggregate, and 123,234 metric tonnes of steel products, including coil, pipe, and rebar, which transited through the Port to construction sites throughout the Greater Toronto Area.

Economic Impact

Commercial Cargo

An independent report entitled Economic Impacts of Marine Shipping in the Port of Toronto – published in September 2023 by Martin Associates confirms that marine cargo handled at the Port of Toronto generated $463.5 million in economic activity and 1,989 jobs in Ontario in 2022. This study focuses exclusively on the cargo component of the Port of Toronto's operation and does not reflect the Port's full diversity of uses, which includes its Cruise Ship Terminal and Marine Terminals.

Cruise

The Port of Toronto is a popular Great Lakes cruising Port of call, in 2023 experiencing its second consecutive record year and welcoming 45 cruise ships and nearly 18,000 passengers. The year 2024 will usher in another strong cruise ship season, with 36 ships expected to call between May and October, bringing nearly 18,000 passengers to Toronto to enjoy all the city has to offer. Cruise the Great Lakes, an initiative led by the Conference of Great Lakes Governors and Premiers, expects cruising in the Great Lakes to generate an economic value of over $200 million USD to the region's Ports and communities in 2024.

Film

PortsToronto leases two of its Marine Terminals to Cinespace, which in turn provides production facilities for film and television companies such as Netflix. This activity supports Toronto's $2 billion film industry, much of which is concentrated in the port lands area. The Port also provides the backdrop for many film productions including Law & Order Toronto, Reacher and The Boys.

"The Port of Toronto is part of an environmentally sustainable, marine transportation corridor through the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Seaway and facilitates the movement of goods and people through Canada's largest city and most populous region," said RJ Steenstra, President and CEO, PortsToronto. "Over and above the Port of Toronto's significant economic impact, generating more than $460 million in economic activity in Ontario, the 2.3 million metric tonnes of cargo delivered to the Port by ship last year took approximately 57,000, 40-tonne trucks off Toronto's congested roads and highways."

By the Numbers

• 189 cargo ships delivered 2,311,616 million metric tonnes of goods to the Port of Toronto in 2023, including:
  •  796,644 metric tonnes of cement (an 11 per cent increase over 2022);
  •  606,060 metric tonnes of sugar;
  •  685,661 metric tonnes of salt;
  •  97,016 metric tonnes of aggregate; and,
  •  123,234 metric tonnes of steel products, including coil, pipe, and rebar.
• The 2.3 million metric tonnes of cargo delivered to the Port by ship last year took approximately 57,000, 40-tonne trucks off Toronto's congested roads and highways.
• $463.5 million in economic activity generated by marine cargo at the Port in 2022.
• $79.1 million in taxes generated by cargo and vessel activity at the Port in 2022.
• 673 jobs directly generated by marine cargo and vessel activity at the Port of Toronto.
• 18,000 passengers welcomed to Toronto on 45 cruise ships in 2023.
• USD $200 million in economic value expected to be generated by cruising in the Great Lakes in 20241.
• $2 billion film industry thriving in Toronto.

SOURCE: PortsToronto

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