[Saint John] Port Development

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by Ottawa

Traffic doesn't have to double to break even on services like that. The people using the ferry in both directions don't just drive around and return home. They spend money in all types of businesses before returning home. That benefits the local businesses and the government who collects taxes on all those extra transactions. That benefit continues to flow into further transactions down the line. It entices more tourists to maybe take the ferry to Nova Scotia and return overland, or vice versa, which means more people may actually decide to do that kind of trip.

To be honest, I don't know how they could actually calculate the total benefit of more affordable travel options, and at what level they actually start getting a positive ROI, but they have to do better than they have in the past.

They spend money on the ship too.

I still think there's some room to lower the prices down for foot passengers and bicycle passengers. There's a lot of extra seats for passengers without vehicles on every single voyage.

It would also be really good to see a bus connection from Digby to Yarmouth and Halifax, which could really give people more reason to take the ferry across.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by Ottawa

Traffic doesn't have to double to break even on services like that. The people using the ferry in both directions don't just drive around and return home. They spend money in all types of businesses before returning home. That benefits the local businesses and the government who collects taxes on all those extra transactions. That benefit continues to flow into further transactions down the line. It entices more tourists to maybe take the ferry to Nova Scotia and return overland, or vice versa, which means more people may actually decide to do that kind of trip.

To be honest, I don't know how they could actually calculate the total benefit of more affordable travel options, and at what level they actually start getting a positive ROI, but they have to do better than they have in the past.

It is an anecdotal example but I had family fly into Halifax a few years ago to visit me in Saint John and then onto Maine. They didn't want to rush and they wanted to visit some places along the way and we debated the 'normal' route via Moncton or going south through Annapolis Valley and onto Digby.

The Digby route was more clearly more expensive with the cost of the ferry and a bit more rigid as we had make a timed slot. However, we chose to do it anyway as we hadn't seen much of Annapolis Valley before and money wasn't too tight. We ended up staying a night in Digby and eating out a local restaurant.

With the price drop of the ferry, it would be an easy choice now.

Saint John could see the same in reverse from folks looking to go to Nova Scotia and staying the night before the ferry in the morning, or folks coming this way and spending the night after the ferry journey.

[Ottawa]

Canpotex Fully Committed on Potash Sales Through December 31, 2025

News 

October 22, 2025 

Canpotex is fully committed on volumes for potash sales through December 31, 2025.

This reflects continued strong demand for potash, supported by solid agricultural fundamentals and a sustained focus on food security in key markets.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

MP Wayne Long posted this update last night.




Our MP and the PM got the Port Saint John hardhats on in this much recycled photo-op, but still waiting to hear on specific expansions or investments into Port Saint John.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by Ottawa

Canpotex Fully Committed on Potash Sales Through December 31, 2025

News 

October 22, 2025 

Canpotex is fully committed on volumes for potash sales through December 31, 2025.

This reflects continued strong demand for potash, supported by solid agricultural fundamentals and a sustained focus on food security in key markets.

Somewhat related, but there was an article the other day on the provincial government trying to pressure Nutrien into reopening the Sussex mine.

Holt government pressures potash mine to lay out path to reopen

https://tj.news/new-brunswick/holt-government-pressures-potash-mine-to-lay-out-path-to-reopen

At a committee inside the legislature earlier this year, Herron signaled that the Holt government would come up with a “use it or lose it” policy that could force the company to re-open the mine or give up the lease the government had given it.

Asked if that had now been communicated to Nutrien, Herron said he walked the company’s executive through the components of its new mineral strategy, aimed at attracting investment, released earlier this year.

“I also signified that to operationalize that type of strategy, we’re going to have a complete rewrite of the mining and mineral acts, we’re going to have a new legislative framework in the province of New Brunswick,” Herron said.

The minister said he is “greatly concerned” with what happens with mineral deposits after companies establish a claim, obtain a licence, and maintain those claims.

“It isn’t as enthusiastic as it should be,” Herron said.

Pivoting directly to Nutrien, the minister added “I think they received a very clear message that there’s an expectation by the government of New Brunswick to see a path forward with respect to the development of that potash asset.”

Herron said he then asked the company to state by the end of the year what’s required to reopen the Sussex mine, including what new technology, machinery, and economic conditions are needed.

[adamuptownsj]

Isn't it just less efficient to mine at current market prices than Saskatchewan potash?

[bingun]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Isn't it just less efficient to mine at current market prices than Saskatchewan potash?

That's the gist of it: yes, it's cheaper for Nutrien to mine in Saskatchewan than in NB. However, that doesn't mean it isn't profitable to mine in NB. While prices have come down from the crazy peaks from early in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, they are still noticeably higher than previously.

Nutrien would rather maximize those profits from its Sask operations than increase its volume (via NB) at a lower profit level. While it is not quite a monopoly, it's not far off from it.

As it relates to the port, I imagine the Potash from Sussex was also railed into PSJ? It would be positive if it were brought back online to further increase exports.

[bingun]

The Port of Halifax also released a video today with great, easy-to-understand visuals and renderings of its current and future plans.

It would be awesome to see something similar from PSJ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7oarUIq2LM

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by bingun

The Port of Halifax also released a video today with great, easy-to-understand visuals and renderings of its current and future plans.

It would be awesome to see something similar from PSJ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7oarUIq2LM

Looks very impressive !

[J81]

Originally Posted by bingun

That's the gist of it: yes, it's cheaper for Nutrien to mine in Saskatchewan than in NB. However, that doesn't mean it isn't profitable to mine in NB. While prices have come down from the crazy peaks from early in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, they are still noticeably higher than previously.

Nutrien would rather maximize those profits from its Sask operations than increase its volume (via NB) at a lower profit level. While it is not quite a monopoly, it's not far off from it.

As it relates to the port, I imagine the Potash from Sussex was also railed into PSJ? It would be positive if it were brought back online to further increase exports.

Correct. CN hauled between 40-50 car loads of potash per day ( excluding weekends ) from the mine outside Sussex to PSJ. Its interesting that they claim it is cheaper to ship unit trains consisting of 225 car loads of potash from Saskatchewan to PSJ than mining it just 50 miles away.

[sailor734]

Were there not flooding problems with this mine that added significantly to the costs. or was that the other one in the Sussex area?

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

‘We’re extremely well positioned’: Maritime ports ready for doubling of non-U.S. exports


• Video Link

Prime Minister Mark Carney has set a goal to double Canada’s non-U.S. exports over the next decade.

“This will generate $300 billion more in trade,” said Carney Wednesday night in a half hour pre-budget address given in Ottawa. “That’s new orders for Canadian resources, technologies and expertise.”

To make that dream a reality, Canadian ports will need to play a big role in diversifying Canada’s trade, and Maritime ports are eager to play a big role.

Port Saint John CEO Craig Bell Estabrooks says the trade plans are a big deal for container ports like his and Halifax, and he believes his New Brunswick port is primed and ready to play a big role.

“I think we’re extremely well positioned,” Bell Estabrooks says. “Our nation building project is just wrapping up.”

Bell Estabrooks says a decades-long enhanced modernization of the port is nearly complete. He says DP World, which operates the six container cranes within the harbour, also have growth plans of their own that will benefit the trade diversification.

That enhanced modernization will allow for larger vessels to load up on site in the future. He also says the port would love to get into the Indo-Pacific and trans-Pacific markets.

“Trade diversification is clearly a priority, ports are clearly a priority, and we think that is to the benefit of Canadians and people in New Brunswick,” Bell Estabrooks says. “There’s a lot of ancillary positive benefits that come with focusing on new markets from an infrastructure standpoint, from an employment standpoint, and then just from a general overall health of the Canadian economy. We see it as being very positive.”


The port currently operates at a capacity to move 800,000 to one million TEU’s (twenty-foot equivalent units).

Estabrooks says it’s not just the infrastructure around the harbour which has the port feeling prepared to boost its operations, but the infrastructure that has been invested in around the site.

Multiple rail lines, including CPKC, run onto port property directly, which Bell Estabrooks believes is another benefit for global markets looking at Canadian ports.

“We want to continue to make investments in those assets because in some way, shape, or form, we think that’ll untap even more economic activity,” Bell Estabrooks says, adding Americold’s cold storage facility being built on the waterfront should be operational next spring and will also drive activity.

The port’s CEO believes there is still more investment to be had, including an improved Simms Corner in Saint John’s west end to help facilitate a smoother flow of goods.

“That’s what we’re working on right now with our provincial government and federal government,” he says. “Those projects may not be as big in scale as others that you’re hearing in nation building, but it’s absolutely nation building because you’re going to put it in context with all the investments that have already been made.”

This specific portion of the above article caught my eye:



Is this assertion accurate? Could the inner Saint John Harbour be dredged to host the largest "mega ships" too, or would such ships require a deepwater port expansion at Lorneville or Mispec?

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by bingun

The Port of Halifax also released a video today with great, easy-to-understand visuals and renderings of its current and future plans.

It would be awesome to see something similar from PSJ.

• Video Link

Some screengrabs of some key expansion pieces from the video:







Here's the Port's still yet to be updated land use plan from 2011. We should be getting a new land use plan soon, as this plan was designed to last no longer than 10-15 years, and much of it is quite outdated.



There's a lot of room for further port expansion within Saint John's inner harbour. Location #9 in the above map, where the tugboats are currently tied up, is perhaps the most logical location for the port to expand next.

It's the job of our MP, Premier, and other NB political leaders to push the federal government to continue with port expansion in Saint John, and specifically to hold the PM accountable to his big words and big vision for Canada's ports. Wayne Long had Mark Carney right there at the West Side docks, but do we think he actually brought Carney over to where the derelict pier and point out that it should be filled in as part of a port expansion project?

The PM has said a lot of things in terms of big, national building projects and trade diversification goals that could be hugely beneficial to Saint John, because of the port, but the PM is not a mind reader. Our local and provincial political leaders need to be pushing the PM to live up to his rhetoric and deliver big investments for Port Saint John, the Maritimes' largest port.

I'm not sure we need a video like the one the Port of Halifax just put out on YouTune, as much as we need NB leaders to be more proactive and more ambitious in their interactions with the federal government, especially one led by a PM who literally never shuts up about big ideas or acting quicker than ever seen before, etc, etc. The NB Liberals are the only Liberal provincial government in the country, and they should take advantage of that alignment, even if it means stepping up to help finance some big port expansion projects.

Of course, it would be great to see Port Saint John release a similarly ambitious video for future expansion projects here in SJ, but I don't think the port is even allowed to release such a video unless they had the okay from the government. Thus, the need for our political leaders to push harder than ever before for further investment and further expansion into Port Saint John in the face of what the PM calls an economic crisis.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Were there not flooding problems with this mine that added significantly to the costs. or was that the other one in the Sussex area?

The one across the highway from the new mine. There are rumours new one built wrong and billion dollar lawsuit, but who knows

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by J81

Correct. CN hauled between 40-50 car loads of potash per day ( excluding weekends ) from the mine outside Sussex to PSJ. Its interesting that they claim it is cheaper to ship unit trains consisting of 225 car loads of potash from Saskatchewan to PSJ than mining it just 50 miles away.

Is it that interesting or surprising? Saskatchewan has the largest potash mines in the world, it wouldn't surprise me if it is indeed cheaper to haul it in from Sask. Moreover, maybe the Sask potash is higher quality and commands a higher price than the potash in NB?

Though, of course, it would be great to see more NB resources extracted and exported through Port Saint John.

I think the bigger head scratcher is the idea of building a LNG pipeline from Central Canada to reach Port Saint John, when NB has more than enough natural gas resources of its own to be developed for global export. Like, I get there would be environmental opposition, but there will be environmental opposition to an LNG pipeline too.

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by J81

Correct. CN hauled between 40-50 car loads of potash per day ( excluding weekends ) from the mine outside Sussex to PSJ. Its interesting that they claim it is cheaper to ship unit trains consisting of 225 car loads of potash from Saskatchewan to PSJ than mining it just 50 miles away.

I would assume transport is the least expensive part of the mining process.

[J81]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Is it that interesting or surprising? Saskatchewan has the largest potash mines in the world, it wouldn't surprise me if it is indeed cheaper to haul it in from Sask. Moreover, maybe the Sask potash is higher quality and commands a higher price than the potash in NB?

Though, of course, it would be great to see more NB resources extracted and exported through Port Saint John.

I think the bigger head scratcher is the idea of building a LNG pipeline from Central Canada to reach Port Saint John, when NB has more than enough natural gas resources of its own to be developed for global export. Like, I get there would be environmental opposition, but there will be environmental opposition to an LNG pipeline too.

It is interesting in the fact that Nutrien spent 2 billion dollars to build the Piccadilly mine and never mined an ounce of potash out of it. From what i understand, it costs them close to 1 million dollars per train from Sask to PSJ.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by J81

It is interesting in the fact that Nutrien spent 2 billion dollars to build the Piccadilly mine and never mined an ounce of potash out of it. From what i understand, it costs them close to 1 million dollars per train from Sask to PSJ.

Sounds like the railways have an interest in keeping it that way, lol.

I didn't realize they invested 2 billion in a NB potash mine though, seems pretty ridiculous to invest that much and not mine it. Sounds like theres more to this story... interesting.

[bingun]

SFL Maui

[FromMaine]

https://financialpost.com/news/economy/port-of-saint-john-east-coast-next-major-gateway

Interesting update. Sounds like a lot more coming.