PRINCE RUPERT — The Port of Prince Rupert entered the final week of January 2026 as Canada’s third-busiest seaport by container volume, a position reinforced by a year of historic infrastructure milestones and shifting cargo dynamics. The performance of the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) throughout 2025 has provided the fiscal and operational momentum observed during the January 24–25 period.
Annual Performance and Cargo Diversification
Data finalized in the week leading up to January 24, 2026, reveals that the Port of Prince Rupert handled 26.3 million tonnes of cargo in 2025, marking a 14 percent increase over the previous year. This growth occurred during a “historic period of infrastructure investment” and reflects the port’s evolution into a diversified global gateway handling over $60 billion in annual trade.
The 2025 fiscal data highlights the resilience of specific sectors. Intermodal traffic at the DP World Prince Rupert Fairview Container Terminal saw a 20 percent year-over-year increase, reaching 885,797 TEUs. This surge was particularly pronounced in the second half of 2025, suggesting a recovery in consumer demand and a stabilization of transpacific shipping routes.
The weekend of January 24–25 saw this operational volume in practice; for instance, the WAN HAI 506 arrived on January 23 and remained at Fairview North through January 26, while the CONTI COURAGE arrived at Fairview South on January 24 to handle container transfers.
Bulk Sector Resilience
The bulk sector also demonstrated significant activity. Agricultural exports through the Prince Rupert Grain Terminal rose by 8 percent, while Trigon Pacific Terminals reported an 18 percent increase in total coal volumes. This rebound in coal, split between a 26 percent increase in metallurgical coal and a 21 percent increase in thermal coal, underscores the persistent demand for Canadian metallurgical inputs in Asian steel production, even as the region pivots toward greener energy.
Table: Harbor Performance and Logistics (2025 Fiscal Year)
| Terminal/Facility | Cargo Type | 2025 Performance Metric | YOY Change |
| Fairview Container Terminal | Intermodal (TEU) | 885,797 | +20% |
| Ridley Island Propane (RIPET) | LPG | 2.4 Million Tonnes | +6% |
| Prince Rupert Grain Terminal | Agricultural | 4.9 Million Tonnes | +8% |
| Trigon Pacific Terminals | Total Coal | 8 Million Tonnes | +18% |
| Watson Island Bulk Terminal | LPG | 506,159 Tonnes | +1% |
| Westview Wood Pellet Terminal | Biofuel | 1.3 Million Tonnes | +3% |
| Cruise Tourism | Passengers | 67,771 | +14% |
The Decarbonization Frontier
Parallel to its logistical expansion, the Port of Prince Rupert is positioning itself as a leader in clean maritime technology.On January 20, 2026, the province announced a $1.7-million investment through Innovate BC’s Integrated Marketplace to test zero-emission innovations at the port.
These projects include:
- Hydrogen Infrastructure: Hydra Energy is leading a $1-million project to deploy a hydrogen-fueling station and test low-emission heavy-duty vehicles for local and long-haul deliveries.
- Autonomous Monitoring: Open Ocean Robotics is piloting the DataXplorer Gen 2, a zero-emission uncrewed surface vessel designed to monitor marine conditions sustainably and improve safety for port users.
- Emission Analytics: Nuport Robotics is installing data-acquisition systems on short-haul trucks to identify and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in real-time.
These initiatives support B.C.’s Look West plan and the PRPA’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions by 30% by 2030, with a long-term goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. By merging massive logistical growth with cutting-edge decarbonization, the Prince Rupert Gateway is redefining the role of a modern industrial port in the 21st century.
