Shipments through the Port of Vancouver, Canada's busiest port, increased by 16 percent in the first half of the year to 36.5 million tonnes, the port authority said on Wednesday.

The Pacific Coast port said it set a record for container traffic in the six-month period, handling just over 809,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). Both import and export shipments increased.

Coal shipments increased 6 percent to 12.3 million tonnes, while bulk grain jumped 81 percent to 4.1 million tonnes. Passenger traffic was up by 2 percent, although the number of cruise ship sailing was off by seven to 104.

Copyright Reuters, 2004