Photo credit @portvancouver
DELTA – The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Wallenius Wilhelmsen have announced the successful completion of terminal upgrades under the Annacis Auto Terminal Optimization Project in Delta, BC. Initiated in 2022, the project consolidated the Annacis and Richmond auto terminals into one facility at the Annacis Auto Terminal.
The upgraded Annacis Auto Terminal can process up to 480,000 vehicles annually—a 36% increase in capacity. The enhancements included expanding two existing rail yards to accommodate 60 rail car spots, constructing a new vehicle processing building, and installing eight electric vehicle charging stations. These improvements also free up industrial land for future trade-related developments, supporting broader economic growth.
“We’re proud to mark the successful completion of the Annacis Auto Terminal Optimization Project. As terminal operators, we’ve worked closely with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and project partners to ensure the improvements not only enhance operational efficiency but also support a safer, more sustainable, and customer-focused facility. The project has modernized key areas of the terminal and added dedicated infrastructure that will improve flow and support future growth. We’re confident that the enhancements will benefit our customers and partners well into the future,” said Timothy McGee, VP Canada Operations, Wallenius Wilhelmsen.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen, which operates the terminal, serves over ten of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers. In 2024, Canadian auto sales rose by 8%, driven by early-year momentum, stable inventory and production, easing interest rates, and promotional dealership activity. In response to this demand, the Port of Vancouver imported nearly 470,000 vehicles—an increase of 3% over 2023 and a record high for the port.
“Last year marked a record year for auto trade through the Port of Vancouver, and the completion of these on-terminal works is a significant step forward in ensuring we are well-positioned to continue enabling Canada’s auto trade through the port. We would like to thank our terminal operator—Wallenius Wilhelmsen—and the Government of Canada for their partnership in successfully reaching this milestone on this important project,” stated Jennifer Natland, Vice-President, Properties & Environment for the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
The Annacis Auto Terminal Optimization Project was jointly funded by the Government of Canada through the National Trade Corridors Fund, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. It is part of the broader Greater Vancouver Gateway 2030 strategy, which outlines nearly 40 infrastructure projects aimed at supporting trade and delivering benefits at multiple levels—national, provincial, regional, and local.
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