THUNDER BAY — The Port of Thunder Bay experienced its strongest June in decades, moving over 1.19 million metric tonnes of cargo during the month.
“It’s the largest June tally seen at the Port in decades,” said port CEO Chris Heikkinen, and marks a significant milestone for the region’s shipping industry.
This surge was led by a wide variety of cargoes, including grain, potash, coal, dry bulk, aggregates, phosphates, and steel, he said. So far this year, total shipments have reached 3.81 million tonnes, which is over 150,000 tonnes ahead of last year at the same point. Shipments are expected to remain strong into July.
Grain continues to be a major contributor to the port’s success, said Heikkinen. Nearly 3 million tonnes of grain have been shipped since the start of the season, also about 14 per cent above the five-year average.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen volumes like this at this time of the year, dating back probably about 30 years,” said Heikkinen. “The grain volumes are strong. This is due to a great crop on the prairies last year and strong market demand that’s moving eastward through the supply chain and finding its way through Thunder Bay.”
Potash shipments saw a notable increase in June, bringing year-to-date volumes in line with last year’s record-breaking pace.
“June was a particularly strong month for potash, and it kind of caught us up to be closer to where we were last year,” Heikkinen explained. “Last year was a record high for potash for the port overall, so we’re not doing too badly there.”
He added, “The potash is always hard to predict. It’s a little more of a spot-type commodity. We service primarily Brazil and also Europe with the potash that’s moving through Thunder Bay.”
General cargo volumes also grew compared to June 2024, when 943,661 tonnes were recorded. In contrast, June 2025 saw 1,193,358 tonnes moved through the port.
Cruise ship activity continued steadily, with six vessels visiting during the month.
Vessel traffic remained strong overall, with 59 vessels arriving at the port in June: 32 domestic, 23 foreign, and 4 American. “There are 11 shipping companies that service our port, and many are bi-national. It just depends on which vessels they choose to service the grain, potash, or other industries in a particular month.” said Heikkinen.
With robust grain and potash volumes and consistent vessel activity, the Port of Thunder Bay is on track for one of its most active shipping seasons in recent memory.
