Sam Macdonald Moncton, New Brunswick, News 0
The four-terminal, deepwater port located about 10 kilometers from the town of the same name saw 121 vessels call in 2021 (compared to 106 in 2020) and saw tonnage grow for many exports, with the most marked increases seen with wood pellets and armor stone.
Jenna MacDonald, VP of marketing, communications, and government relations at the port, said wood pellets exported by the Port of Belledune increased by 63 percent in 2021.
Wood pellets shipped from Belledune are sourced from three pellet mills: one in Belledune owned by Shaw Resources, one owned by Groupe Savoie in St. Quentin, and J.D. Irving’s newly expanded mill in St. Leonard. They are primarily sent to European markets.
“That supports the forest industry, with forest residues being used as a value-added product in the province and internationally,” said MacDonald.
One reason the Port of Belledune was not as heavily impacted by supply chain crimps was its bulk shipping specialty. The port handles bulk transport shipping and doesn’t see container or cruise traffic.
While labour shortages, backed up marine traffic, other supply chain problems, and a ban on cruise traffic continuing into 2021 have impacted other ports, things were more or less business as usual for the Port of Belledune.
“When people think about ports they tend to visualize container ships, which is not what we do. When there are issues with containers or shipping goods, it doesn’t usually affect Belledune because we ship raw materials that are used to make goods,” said MacDonald.
“We experienced a few of the global supply chains’ issues when they broke down, but nowhere near what a container port would.”
In addition to bulk shipping, the Port of Belledune provides trans-shipment services, bringing goods from larger vessels to smaller ports that they can’t reach, mostly in Quebec.
MacDonald said the biggest drawback for the port in 2020 was a drop in demand for armor stone, which it sources from three nearby quarries. The Port of Belledune bounced back in 2021, shipping 127,000 tons of armor stone–up 153 percent from the 50,000 shipped in 2020.
That armor stone, used to build breakwaters and wharves, ends up in destinations as close as Prince Edward Island, Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon. It also ships as far away as the Caribbean.
“So if you go on a cruise to Barbados, their rocks came from Belledune,” MacDonald noted.
Port Belledune also bulk ships natural and synthetic gypsum, mill-scale limestone, coal, bauxite, petroleum coke, salt, silica sand, and wood pellets, chips, and residues.
While she didn’t provide figures relating to revenue, MacDonald said business is expected to continue growing in 2022, driven by increasing market demand for armor stone and wood chips in 2022. Demand for armor stone is being driven by shoreline protection and construction projects.
This year is already looking good. Port Belledune saw its first ship of the year called to port Jan. 2.
To accommodate anticipated growth, the port is working on a development plan that may include expansion onto some of the 1,600 acres of land that surrounds it.
“We’re looking to expand and really utilize the assets we have, and add value to resources before they’re exported or imported,” she said.
“We’re excited to evaluate expansion options and move forward with the recommendations that come out of the plan.”
Port Belledune is planning to share the wealth, too. With around $65,000 donated to local community sponsorships and organizations in 2021, MacDonald says more investments are expected, based on budget estimations for this year.
Sam Macdonald is a Huddle reporter in Moncton. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected] .
Fredericton, Halifax, Moncton, New Brunswick, News, Nova Scotia, Saint John
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