Maritime ports eager for role in expanding non-U.S. exports

Maritime ports say they’re ready to expand Canada’s exports.

Canada’s premiers have returned to their respective provinces following their First Ministers meeting.

In a joint statement, the premiers, along with Prime Minister Mark Carney, reiterated their commitment to a unified “Team Canada” approach as the country continues to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump and his unpredictable tariffs.

Part of that statement reaffirmed the country’s commitment to double all non-U.S. exports over the next decade.

“First Ministers welcomed progress made to advance major nation-building projects that will strengthen Canada’s economy and drive prosperity across the country,” the statement reads. “First Ministers agreed to continue working together to fast-track these projects, cut red tape and streamline project approvals based on the principle of one project, one review.”

Both the Port of Halifax and Port Saint John have repeatedly said they are ready to help get Canadian goods to new markets through their gateways.

Earlier this week, the Port Saint John celebrated the fact Ontario has more than doubled its exports through the New Brunswick port in the last year. They accounted for almost a third of all exports out of the port in 2025, most of which was bound for markets outside of the U.S.

“It’s just such a key part for the country’s economy,” Port Saint John president and CEO Craig Bell Estabrooks says of southern Ontario. “For us in Atlantic Canada and in New Brunswick specifically to be able to play a part in that and get some of those goods to new markets in Europe is really, really exciting for us to be so tied in with them.”

Bell Estabrooks says the port has already gotten calls from more Ontario industries since spending time in Ottawa with both Premier Susan Holt and Premier Doug Ford earlier this week.

Premier Holt says her province is playing a key role in world-class shipping hubs and is playing a big part in bringing Canada to global markets.

“Our continuous investment in the Port of Saint John and its growth ensures economic stability not just for today, but for the long term,” Holt said in Ottawa Wednesday. “Making New Brunswick a cornerstone of Canada’s trade network.”

Port Saint John recently completed a $247 million modernization project that will help diversify Canada’s trade.

Bell Estabrooks says the port will continue to push for infrastructure investments and improvements.

“Not everyone globally knows where Saint John, New Brunswick, is, we reckon, we fully recognize that,” Bell Estabrooks says. “When I get to travel and meet with new potential users of the port, I often lead with who our partners are.

“We’re a deep-water port that has great water depth and modern facilities. We’ve got DP world as our world class terminal operator, we connect into CPKC and CN rail lines, we have Hapag- Lloyd, CMA, Maersk, MSC. Once you lead with those big global brands, people then want to know more about your gateway and your port.”

He says improvements will also need to continue around the port for Canada to meet its export goal. He mentioned a redevelopment of Simms Corner specifically.

The biggest port on the East Coast lies on the shores of Halifax, with a direct line across the Atlantic to European and Asian markets.

The Port of Halifax is the only eastern Canadian port that can welcome container ships that can carry up to 18,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit), which they say are becoming more common on international trade routes.

“Halifax is also connected with major ports on the Eastern seaboard of the U.S., and our deep-sea services connect to more than 150 countries around the world,” Port of Halifax communications director Lori MacLean says in an email. “Halifax is truly an international gateway for Canada.”

The Nova Scotia port is also in the process of upgrading rail lines in and out of the terminal. That includes 14,000 feet of new rail being laid, two new electric rail mounted gantry cranes, and a redesigned container buffer zone.

New cranes will also find a home on the waterfront in the near future to help get more goods in and off vessels quicker.

The Port of Halifax is the only eastern Canadian port that can welcome container ships that can carry up to 18,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) which Port President and CEO Fulvio Fracassi says are becoming more common on international trade routes.“Those large vessels represent about 38 per cent of the global fleet,” Fracassi says. “Between now and 2030, that’s expected to reach 50 per cent.”

Fracassi says Halifax’s proximity to markets on the other side of the Atlantic gives them a strategic advantage.

“We are, via the Suez Canal, the closest port to Southeast Asia, to India,” he points out. “So, I think we can play a really important role there.”

Fracassi also highlights the port’s ability to get goods to and from the harbour in a matter of days to key North American markets.