HOPA Ports (Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority) has released results for the 2024 navigation season, reporting a combined total cargo of 11.46 million metric tonnes (MT) through the ports of Hamilton and Oshawa, and the Thorold Multimodal Hub.
The evolving cargo mix demonstrates the importance of trade-enabling infrastructure in driving Ontario’s economy. The navigation season saw a total of 676 vessels, with 610 in Hamilton, 56 in Oshawa and 10 in Thorold.
“Through strategic, long-term investments, we continue to support key industries and strengthen Ontario’s supply chains,” said Ian Hamilton, President & CEO of HOPA Ports.
Cargoes handled through HOPA’s port network represented 31% of the total cargo that transited the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System. HOPA’s proportion of overall Seaway volumes has been increasing over the past several years.
Agri-Food
Agri-food commodities shipped through the Ports of Hamilton and Oshawa reached a combined total of 3.42 million MT, maintaining agri-food’s position as a cornerstone of HOPA’s cargo mix. Agri-food now represents 31% of total cargo volume, driven by a decade of investment in trade-enabling infrastructure.
The Port of Hamilton saw a nearly 30% increase in raw sugar tonnage over 2023, exceeding 180,000 MT. These totals are expected to climb with the completion of a new sugar refinery, and as demand for refined sugar continues to grow within the regional food manufacturing sector.
At the Port of Oshawa, a new grain silo completed in Q4 2024 enabled a substantial increase in grain deliveries. This new export capacity directly benefits farmers in Durham and east GTA regions, by providing a more efficient terminal.
“We’re delighted by the positive responses we’re getting from farmers about the Port of Oshawa’s expanded grain terminal,” Mr. Hamilton said. “It shows we’re on the right track in strengthening Canadian agricultural supply chains and providing infrastructure that truly serves our partners.”
Steel & Project Cargo
Steel-making commodities remain a significant staple in the cargo mix at the Port of Hamilton, making up 47.5% of total HOPA cargo. Finished and semi-finished steel such as coils, slabs and beams also showed strong results, reaching a combined total of 956,000 MT handled through Hamilton and Oshawa. Finished steel is used extensively in the GTHA construction and manufacturing industries, including the automotive sector.
Project cargo also recorded significant activity, with over 37,000 cubic metres of machinery, power units, and parts being handled through HOPA’s ports. Notably, components for Sucro Can’s refinery operations were delivered by vessel directly to the new plant’s port location.
Economic and Travel Activity Drives Fuel Demand
More than 386,000 MT of fuel transited the Port of Hamilton in 2024, reflecting strong demand from the transportation and aviation sectors, as 2024 came to a close.
New Trade-Enabling Infrastructure
Major construction projects marked 2024 as a transformative year for HOPA Ports:
- Sucro Can Sugar Refinery (Hamilton): With an estimated investment of $135 million CAD, the new sugar refinery will have an annual refining capacity of 1 million metric tonnes.
- Parrish & Heimbecker Expansion (Hamilton): Expansion underscores P&H as the largest single-user of Ontario-grown wheat, supporting the $48 billion food processing sector in Ontario.
- Grain Terminal Expansion (Oshawa): $35+ million expansion and modernization. The newly expanded terminal now offers a total of 20,000 MT of storage capacity and features a vessel loading rate of up to 12,000 MT per day, ensuring fast and efficient grain loading.
- TTL Rail Transload Terminal for Liquid Food Commodities (Hamilton): Toronto Tank Lines launched a new rail transload facility at the Port of Hamilton in 2024. The facility distributes essential liquid products for the regional agri-food sector. In its first year of operation this facility handled over 2,000 railcars, supporting supply chains in Ontario’s food manufacturing and processing sector.
- Thorold Hub North Stormwater Management & Surfacing (Niagara): New stormwater management and surfacing at Thorold Hub North will increase cargo handling area, reduce dust and improve water quality protection.
- Inland Rail Terminal for Containers (Hamilton): HOPA partner Hamilton Container Terminals completed an investment in a new inland rail terminal to enable the more efficient distribution of containerized goods arriving in the GTHA by rail from Canadian coastal ports. With construction complete, the facility now requires only CBSA approval to begin operations.
Outlook for 2025
“We may be heading into 2025 under a cloud of uncertainty, but we believe we are doing the right things to maximize resiliency,” noted Mr. Hamilton. “We have invested in trade-enabling infrastructure that enhances our economic relationships with a range of global partners. The majority of grain exports, for example, are destined for markets in Europe. “
“We are also investing in infrastructure to make supply chains within Canada as efficient and productive as possible. The new inland container facility at Pier 18 in Hamilton, currently awaiting CBSA approval, is an example of how we can be proactive in strengthening our supply chains, keeping costs down for domestic businesses and consumers.”
(Photo from Port of Hamilton)