Shaun Stevenson is President & CEO of the Prince Rupert Port Authority
PRINCE RUPERT – The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) has reached financial close on a $150 million loan to the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) for the first phase of a project to build CANXPORT. The new export logistics hub will expand capacity and capabilities for rail-to-container transloading of multiple export products at the Port of Prince Rupert, improve Canadian supply chains, and drive trade and economic growth.
Work has already begun to prepare one of Canada’s busiest ports for the new facility, located a short distance from Fairview Container Terminal, which will provide access to capacity to improve the balance of import and export cargoes that will benefit the Port’s broader intermodal business, driving local economic and employment benefits both directly and indirectly within the community.
The innovative facility will enable the efficient containerization of bulk commodities such as agricultural, forestry, and plastic resin products with room to expand and diversify to handle additional cargoes in the future. The project’s scale, unit train capabilities, and integration into existing container terminal operations will facilitate substantial opportunities to exporters that enhance container supply chains and ways to reach international markets. The hub’s initial annual capacity will be 400,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (containers).
Local Indigenous partners are involved in the development and operation of CANXPORT. The primary contract site development was awarded by PRPA to an Indigenous joint venture that includes Metlakatla First Nation, Lax Kw’alaams Band, Gitxaała Nation and IDL Projects Inc. Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams are also majority owners of Gat Leedm Logistics, the largest provider of truck drayage services within the Port, that will also support CANXPORT’s operation. Following construction, CANXPORT’s operations are expected to commence in Q3 2026.
Funding for Phase 2, which is expected to be approved later in 2024, will be used to help Ray-Mont Logistics to finance construction of the transloading facility and container storage yard.
“This investment in the Port of Prince Rupert’s expansion will improve Canada’s export capabilities to the Asia- Pacific region, driving trade and economic growth. We’re also looking forward to the incredible economic opportunities that the CANXPORT project will bring for Indigenous communities in Prince Rupert,” said Shaun Stevenson, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Prince Rupert Port Authority.
Capital investment in CANXPORT is provided by PRPA, Ray-Mont Logistics, and Canadian National Railway Co. (CN). The Government of Canada and the Government of BC are also financial contributors to the project infrastructure.
This is the CIB’s first investment in a Canadian port. The Port of Prince Rupert is a critical Canadian trade gateway that ships a diversified portfolio of cargoes through several intermodal, dry bulk and liquid bulk terminals. The Port is the closest North American west coast port to Asia-Pacific markets. The Port is also the deepest natural harbour in North America, is ice-free year-round, and is able to accommodate the largest vessels in the shipping trade.
“CANXPORT represents a truly unique opportunity for Ray-Mont to offer our valued customers the best containerized export logistics solution in North America. The facility will offer over 50 acres of land with future expansion potential, three loop tracks each capable of handling 10,500’ unit trains, and trucking on private roads allowing us to decarbonize and electrify our operations. Combined with the natural benefits of the Port of Prince Rupert, we will be able to offer unparalleled levels of productivity and supply chain resiliency for exporters,” said Charles Raymond, President & Chief Executive Officer, Ray-Mont Logistics.