Canada's Trade Competitiveness Under Threat from Inefficient Ports

Canada's economic health relies heavily on its ability to move goods efficiently through international markets. With nearly two-thirds of the country's economy tied to trade, Ottawa is looking to diversify exports and reduce reliance on a single market. However, Canadian ports are falling behind their international counterparts, undermining competitiveness.

Closer examination reveals that Canada's largest trade gateways performed poorly in World Bank rankings. The port of Montreal ranked 344th, while the port of Vancouver ranked 389th. Prince Rupert, a critical gateway to Asian markets, ranked near the bottom of its category at 362nd.

Efficient ports are crucial for shipping costs, delivery times, and supply chain reliability. At the Port of Vancouver, containers sat in terminals for 4-7 days during peak congestion periods in 2025, leading to higher storage costs and ultimately higher prices for consumers.

The World Bank's rankings should be setting off alarm bells, as Canada's claim to being a trading nation is suspect while it tolerates inefficient ports. In contrast, Singapore's Tuas Port, the world's first fully automated port, ranked 29th globally and handled 40.9 million containers annually.