Montreal Port Authority says it’s ready for a “tough year”

Montreal Port Authority (MPA) president and CEO Julie Gascon says port has “a firm commitment to actively contribute to our country’s economic sovereignty.”

Montreal Port Authority (MPA) president and CEO Julie Gascon and board chair Nathalie Pilon released the Port of Montreal’s 2024 operating results at this week’s MPA annual meeting.

“In a global economic context marked by uncertainty and upheaval, the Montreal Port Authority showed incredible resilience in 2024,” said Gascon. “With the strength of our model, the commitment of our teams and the diversity of our markets, we stayed the course, strengthened our strategic role in Canadian trade and kept steering toward sustainable growth. Even though 2025 is expected to be a tough year, our sights remain set on the future with promising projects like the Contrecœur expansion and a firm commitment to actively contribute to our country’s economic sovereignty.”

The 2024 results show stable volumes compared to 2023, CAD 143 million in operating results and CAD 22.6 million in net earnings. The year was characterized by several major port infrastructure projects, milestones in the energy transition and many high points in community engagement.

Cargo traffic

With 35.41 million tonnes of goods handled at the Port of Montreal in 2024, overall tonnage rose slightly by 0.2% compared to the previous year. This result, despite the uncertainty and turbulence faced throughout 2024, including the labour dispute and geopolitical issues around the world, substantiates the resilience of stakeholders in the shipping industry and the Port of Montreal’s importance in North America’s supply chain.

• 12.58 million tonnes of containerized goods were handled, down 3.8% from 2023. In terms of TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), this represents 1,464,320 TEUs, a 4.8% decrease over one year.
• The liquid bulk sector handled 13.67 million tonnes, a year-on-year dip of 1.5%.
• Dry bulk posted a 9.3% upturn to reach 9.16 million tonnes, driven by strong performance in the grain sector.
• With 65,136 passengers and crew members across 41 stopovers, the 2024 cruise season dipped by 3% from 2023.

Financial results and infrastructure investments

Operating revenues were CAD 143 million in 2024 compared with CAD 138 million in 2023, a 3.8% increase.

Expenses totaled CAD 129.5 million, including CAD 94.1 million excluding amortization.
Capital investments for 2024 totaled CAD 74.8 million.

With investment income factored in, net income was CAD 11 million.

Readying the Port of Montreal’s future

Among the major projects underway in 2024, the Port of Montreal’s Contrecœur expansion project achieved many milestones, including an agreement signed with the consortium Constructeurs Terminal de Contrecœur Grand Projet (CTCGP), formed by Pomerleau and Aecon, to design the in-water works using a collaborative design-build (collaborative DB) approach. Several other initiatives that were launched, such as redeveloping the CanEst terminal, rehabilitating the Pie-IX railway bridge and optimizing the railway network, not only aimed to enhance operational efficiency and safety, but also prepare the port to meet the demands of a growing market. Lastly, rehabilitation projects, such as repairing Berth 28 and the Grand Quay parking lot as well as modernizing railway equipment and water supply networks, help maintain the facilities’ longevity while optimizing their long-term operation.

Sustainable development

On the environmental front, the Port of Montreal’s GHG footprint stood at 3,030 tonnes of Scopes 1 and 2 GHG emissions, down 13% compared to 2023 and 37% since 2007. Initiatives such as shore power, supplying renewable natural, and better energy performance in MPA buildings further advance the MPA’s energy transition objectives. The MPA also strengthened its role in the community by supporting 54 community-building projects, finding more ways to connect with residents, and deepening its commitment to First Nations. Also noteworthy, the Port welcomed more than 10,000 visitors during its Port Day and continued to work toward its goal to smoothly integrate with the city by developing the Bickerdike Promenade and taking tangible steps to reduce light pollution and environmental impacts. Over the course of the year, the flagship project in Contrecœur also included reforestation, holding open houses and taking a transparent approach to accountability.

On an even keel for 2025

The port says that the year 2025 will be marked by decisive steps in its Contrecœur expansion project, which, it says, is becoming ever more urgent in the unstable political and economic context caused by the tariff war instigated by the United States. As a lever for Canada’s growth and economic sovereignty, over the course of the year this project is heading to its official launch and first shovel in the ground.

Operated by the Montreal Port Authority (MPA), the Port of Montreal is the largest container port in Eastern Canada and a diversified transshipment center that handles all types of goods: containerized and non-containerized cargo, liquid bulk and dry bulk. The only container port in Quebec, it is also an intermodal hub, featuring its own rail network directly dockside connected to Canada’s two national rail networks. The MPA also operates a cruise terminal.

Download the MPA 2024 annual report HERE