Port numbers are in for the month of July and it continues to be a slower than average summer for Thunder Bay.
Shipments are down 20 to 40 per cent across the board compared to this time last year. But it might not be all bad news.
The dip seems to be caused in part by the loss of the Canadian Wheat Board. In July of 2012, there was more than 600,000 tonnes of grain shipped, but this July saw just 360,000.
The total for July saw less than 500,000 tonnes of cargo come through the port compared to more than 830,000 tonnes a year ago.
Because the Port closes for the winter, much of the traffic happens in spring and fall.
Port Authroity CEO Tim Heney says when the numbers are examined on a crop year basis, as opposed to a calendar year basis, Thunder Bay is down only two per cent in shipments.
The Port Authority is optimistic though.
Big shipments are expected to start rolling in within the next two weeks as the fall harvest begins.
Use of the new crane has also been down this year.
But with large shipments coming and the oil sands moving along, the crane is expected to be used much more at the end of this season and into next year.
(Thunder Bay Television)
