Port of Montreal sees drop in shipments as labour dispute continues

April 1, 2021

Shipping volumes at the Port of Montreal are dropping amid the spectre of a potential strike, Maritime Employers Association president Martin Tessier says. "Every day, we are receiving calls to know if we're going to close," Tessier said in an interview. "The anxiety of all the importers and exporters, it's rising like crazy."

Volume at the port has dropped 1.8 per cent since the start of 2021, Tessier added, as customers look to other ports to ship to and from. The longshore workers' union voted on March 21 to reject the employers' offer, but said it did not intend to submit a strike notice.

The Shipping Federation of Canada, the trade association representing the interests of ocean-going ships, said earlier this month that the situation was causing North American importers and exporters to divert cargo away from the port. Tessier said shippers are shifting their business to ports with which the Port of Montreal competes, including New York and Baltimore.

This is an excerpt from the Canadian Press.

Topic(s)

Freight & Transport

Information source

Canadian News Channel

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