Major Canadian ports rank near the bottom of global efficiency rankings, with Vancouver placing 389th out of 403 container ports worldwide, according to the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index released in September.
The Port of Prince Rupert ranked 362nd globally, while Montreal placed 344th. Major US West Coast ports, including Seattle, Long Beach, and Los Angele,s all ranked higher.
The inefficiency carries a steep price. Saskatchewan-based Nutrien, the world’s largest potash producer, announced in November it chose Washington state’s Port of Longview over Canadian ports for a proposed $1 billion export terminal. By 2031, as much Canadian potash mined by the company will ship through US ports as through Canadian facilities.
Vancouver handles approximately $800 million in goods daily, but container ships sit at anchor for days or weeks awaiting their turn to dock. Labor disputes have repeatedly disrupted operations — rail congestion and restrictions on automation compound the delays.
Transport Canada’s own assessment found Canadian ports are “managed primarily in favour of importers and containerized exports are a secondary consideration,” according to government documents.
Chris Reynolds, Nutrien’s chief commercial officer, said the company evaluated 30 criteria. Washington’s Port of Longview “consistently came out on top.”
Australian mining giant BHP, which has invested approximately $23 billion in Canadian mining operations, expressed concerns about infrastructure challenges affecting its $14 billion potash project in Saskatchewan.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has committed to doubling Canada’s non-US exports from $300 billion to $600 billion by 2035. The federal government introduced Bill C-5, giving cabinet authority to fast-track projects in the national interest.
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