The Port of Toronto moved more than 2.3 million 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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.”
(Photo from Port of Toronto)
