SEPT-ÎLES, January 23, 2023 – With 33.4 million tonnes of cargo handled last year, the Sept-Îles Port Authority is pleased to announce its best year of port activity ever since its inception in 1999. This figure represents an increase of 4.1% over the previous year’s total of 32.1 million tonnes.
As a result of this strong performance, the St. Lawrence River port maintains its 3rd-place position in Canada for the volume of cargo handled in 2022.
Increased shipments of iron ore accounted for the growth, especially the 24% increase in exports by Quebec Iron Ore (to 10 million tonnes). Aluminerie Alouette also set a new mark for aluminum shipments, with a record 574,000 tonnes routed by sea through the port.
In addition, Sept-Îles was the first St. Lawrence port to welcome a cruise ship as the industry resumed operations in Canada in the wake of the pandemic. In all, a record 11 vessels and 14,400 passengers visited this past season.
The outlook for the new year is bright, thanks in large part to the 7 million tonne expansion at Quebec Iron Ore that is now in production. “This increase in output could help put us past the symbolic threshold of 40 million tonnes, a historical record, that could lift the port into 2nd place in Canada for volume of activity,” said Pierre D. Gagnon, President and CEO of the Port of Sept-Îles.
“The Port of Sept-Îles is a flagship of the regional and national economy. We should be proud of that fact and spread the word that port traffic accounts for around 10% of the total value of Quebec exports,” said Bernard Lynch, Chairman of the Board of the Port of Sept-Îles.
ABOUT THE PORT OF SEPT-ÎLES
Boasting diverse, state-of-the-art facilities, the Port of Sept-Îles is one of North America’s largest ore-handling ports, with a projected volume for 2023 of nearly 40 million metric tons. It is also recognized as the largest primary aluminum port terminal in the Americas in terms of operational volume. Sept-Îles port facilities play a vital and strategic role in the economy of Eastern Canada. The Port is also deeply committed to sustainable development and has pioneered the first environmental observatory on the St. Lawrence to monitor the marine ecosystem.
Sources :
Patsy Keays
Director, Corporate Affaires & Corporate Secretary
Port of Sept-Îles
Tel. 418 961-1235
pkeays@portsi.com