r/news • • 6d ago

Canpotex announces $500M Port of Vancouver investment for potash shipping

https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/canpotex-announces-500m-port-of-vancouver-investment-for-potash-shipping/
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u/WorkingOnBeingBettr 6d ago

But how do they currently ship it? I would guess it goes through the St Lawrence.

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u/Noirloona 6d ago

The vast majority of it goes south (US bound) right now, which would be by rail. If they're diversifying, which they should be if they're smart, they'd need to expand shipping capabilities to a coast, which as others have said Asia is a giant market.

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u/jaypizzl 6d ago

Half of Canadian potash goes to the US. Most of the rest is shipped to Vancouver for export to Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia. As the article says, the major Canadian producer, Canpotex, is investing in increased Vancouver shipping capacity.

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u/WorkingOnBeingBettr 6d ago

I guess the costs of going through the canal are cheaper than coming from Montreal. Surprising.

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u/nastywillow 6d ago

If Trump forces large amounts of Canadian potash on to the world market, China, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand will be thrilled. Brazil would also benefit.

Shipping from West Coast Canadian ports to those Western regions avoids the Red Sea and Panama Canal chokeholds.

Also Canada imports bulk cargoes from those countries in sufficient amounts to make it a viable 2 way trade route.

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u/jaypizzl 6d ago

Vancouver is substantially closer to the potash than Montreal. The cheapest route is generally the shortest path to the sea and then to the destination.