Economic Impact
B.C.鈥檚 maritime sector creates thousands of jobs, supports communities and boosts Canada鈥檚 economic and social well-being
From Ship to Shore
DISCOVER HOW CANADA鈥橲
WEST COAST PORTS DRIVE GROWTH
Canada has what the world needs 鈥� and 麻豆 depend on B.C.’s ports to deliver it. From critical minerals to grain, lumber, household and manufactured goods, our ports are Canada鈥檚 vital link to global markets, moving nearly 50% of our nation鈥檚 total trade with partners beyond North America.
Prepared by InterVISTAS for the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Nanaimo Port Authority, Prince Rupert Port Authority, BC Marine Terminal Operators and the BC Maritime 麻豆, the Economic Impact of West Coast Ports Study highlights the critical contributions of Canada鈥檚 West Coast ports to Canada鈥檚 growth and trade resilience.
Explore the Study to see the full impact of B.C.’s maritime community and their role in powering Canada’s connection to the world.
WEST COAST PORTS Economic Impact By the Numbers
$409B Cargo Handled Annually
$409 billion worth of cargo flowed through B.C. ports in 2025.
$1.1B Cargo Moved Every Day
Every day, approx.
$1.1 billion in cargo is moved.
$25B in National GDP
$25 billion in total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) generated impact.
50% of Canada鈥檚 Trade
B.C鈥檚 ports handle nearly 50% of Canada鈥檚 total trade with partners outside of North America.
60,900 Direct Jobs
Nearly 61,000 direct jobs are sustained by operations and activities at West Coast Ports.
152,100 Jobs Across Canada
152,100 jobs nation-wide directly and indirectly supporting Canada鈥檚 West Coast ports.
$13B in wages supported nation-wide
West Coast ports support more than $13 billion in earned wages across Canada.
42% Above National Average for Wages
Average wages on the waterfront are 42% higher than the national average.
2025 Economic Impact Study
West Coast Ports Are Leading the Way to Doubling Non-US Trade
Every day, $1.1 billion in goods moves through Canada’s West Coast ports 鈥� a quiet but powerful engine of national prosperity. A new Economic Impact of West Coast Ports study shows just how central these gateways have become: the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Nanaimo now support more than 150,000 Canadian jobs and form the backbone of the country’s international trade.
In 2025, West Coast ports moved a record 200 million metric tonnes of cargo, worth $409 billion, connecting Canadian producers to more than 170 customers in overseas markets. From energy, forestry products and grain to critical minerals, vehicles and household goods, B.C鈥檚 ports handle the full breadth of what Canada makes, mines, harvests, grows 鈥� and needs in return.
Read the full news release to learn more.
Delivering for 麻豆
Explore the frequently asked questions to learn more about Canada鈥檚 West Coast port鈥檚 economic impact and the BCMEA鈥檚 role in supporting 麻豆 and our economy.
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In 2025, $409B of cargo safely flowed through Canada鈥檚 West Coast ports – averaging $1.1 billion of goods every day.
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B.C.’s ports support approximately 152,100 jobs across Canada, including jobs directly at the ports, jobs at businesses that support port operations, and jobs generated through related spending in local communities.
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West Coast ports support well-paying, skilled jobs, with the median salary for unionized 麻豆 in 2025 approx. $162,521 and median salary for forepersons $273,936.
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Of the $409 billion in goods that moved through West Coast Ports in 2025, approximately $281 billion was international trade with partners outside North America 鈥� representing nearly 50% of all Canadian trade with those markets.
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The BCMEA supports members鈥� operations by providing expertise in training and safety, workforce operations and dispatch, labour relations and data analytics.