Thunder Bay port continues robust shipping pace

The Thunder Bay Port Authority says the port more than doubled its grain output in June, compared to the same month last year.

A total of 965,000 metric tonnes of grain were loaded onto outbound lake boats and ocean-going vessels.

The authority said this is the strongest June the port has had in 17 years.

Year-to-date, grain shipments are up 35 per cent over 2013 and 18 per cent over a five-year average.

Overall monthly tonnage for the port surpassed 1 million tonnes for the second month in a row, the authority stated in a release. Potash and dry bulk commoditiesalso saw increases over 2013 volumes.

The last time both May and June shipments were more than 1 million tonnes was in 2001, the authority said.

Shipments are expected to remain strong throughout the summer as western Canada's record grain harvest from 2013 continues to move to market.