Canada Grain Shipping: Vancouver, the Seaway and Ships
Canada exports wheat, canola, barley and other crops from two coasts and from the Great Lakes. The ports and the ships differ, and the winter changes the shipping plan.
West Coast
Most grain from the prairies goes by rail to the terminals on the Pacific coast near Vancouver and Prince Rupert, where it is loaded into ocean ships. From there it goes to Asia, for example Japan, China and Korea, and to other markets. The terminals work all year, so this is the main route in winter.
The St Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes
Grain also moves on the Great Lakes and the St Lawrence Seaway, where it is loaded at the lake ports and travels to the lower St Lawrence or to overseas ports. The Seaway has size limits for ships and is normally closed in winter, usually from late December until late March. Ships must leave before the closing date, so cargo plans are made around it.
Ships used
Panamax and Supramax ships load on the West Coast. On the Great Lakes, special ships built for the locks, called lakers, and smaller ocean ships are used because of the size limits of the Seaway. The ship operator should check the draft and the length that the locks allow.
Crops and season
Wheat and canola are the main exports. The harvest is in late summer and autumn, and a large part is shipped from autumn onwards. Rail capacity and weather in the prairies can affect the supply of grain at the port, so a ship may wait for cargo. This should be reflected in the terms for laytime.
Buyers
Buyers are spread over Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, South America and Europe. The long voyage to Asia from the West Coast is common for wheat and canola, and the Atlantic voyage from the Seaway ports is used for markets in Europe and North Africa.
What to write in your request
The crop and the quantity with a tolerance, the loading port or the range of ports, whether a Seaway passage is needed, the discharging port, the laycan and the terms for loading and discharging. State the delivery term of your sale as well; see FOB, CFR and CIF, and chartering ships for grain.
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