Test shipments underway at expanded Port of Oshawa Grain Export Terminal

The newly expanded Port of Oshawa Grain Export Terminal welcomed its first test shipments this fall, a welcome milestone after a $35 million expansion and modernization.

The upgrades to the terminal and associated port infrastructure, spearheaded by Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority and backed by a $14 million contribution from the federal government’s National Trade Corridors Fund, now offers a total of 20,000 metric tonnes of storage capacity and features a vessel loading rate of up to 12,000 tonnes per day.

A new dual truck unloading structure, capable of receiving 700 tonnes per hour, will streamline deliveries and minimize delays. The facility has weather protection, as well as a modern dust control system to meet high environmental standards.

“Making this facility work for regional farmers is our priority; we’ve invested in quality infrastructure, improving the terminal’s efficiency from the front gate right onto the vessel. We’re thrilled that the Port of Oshawa is contributing to the resiliency and reliability of Canadian agricultural supply chains,” said HOPA Ports CEO Ian Hamilton.

The improved facility is addressing past issues that impacted its performance, such as delivery lineups, underutilized silos and weather-related operational delays. Accessing and using the site is now easier, saving time and money for farmers. Full-scale dredging of the Oshawa Harbour will ensure that vessels can navigate safely and be loaded to capacity.

The terminal is expected to provide a much-needed export option for local farmers, while freeing up new capacity at other facilities in the region to handle Ontario’s growing grain output.

It will also offer a vital local delivery point for farmers in the GTA-East region, significantly reducing the distance many local farmers are travelling to deliver their grain. This reduction in travel will help lower greenhouse gas emissions, providing both economic and environmental benefits. The improvements at the Port Oshawa are expected to remove an estimated 12,000 long-distance heavy truck trips from Ontario highways.

The terminal is a joint venture between QSL and HOPA Ports. Grain handler Parrish & Heimbecker is managing the first test shipments of soybeans, which began in September and will run to the end of October. These soybeans will be used to settle the new bin and fill the existing silo, with plans to load an ocean-going vessel this fall.

“QSL is proud to be part of this effort to enhance the potential of the Port of Oshawa,” said QSL Vice-President (Ontario) Gino Becerra. “We are looking forward to seeing more grain exported through this facility every year.”

The terminal was constructed by industry-leader FWS, well-known for its reliability and familiarity with the Ontario market.

“Expanding the Oshawa Grain Export Terminal is a big step for Canada’s trade infrastructure,” said federal Transport Minister and Treasury Board President Anita Anand. “We’re helping local farmers, boosting regional economies, and keeping our supply chains strong and efficient.”

Over the coming decades, Ontario’s grain production for export is expected to increase by two million tonnes, with at least 300,000 tonnes of that growth within the Port of Oshawa’s catchment area.