Portland’s potash terminal prepares for expansion
The Port of Portland and Portland Bulk Terminals said they will spend $16 million to expand the port’s handling of bulk potash exports.
Portland Bulk, which is owned by Canpotex Ltd., operates the Oregon port’s Terminal 5 (T-5) under a long-term lease with the Port of Portland. Canpotex expects the additional storage space and rail loop will help increase potash exports through T-5 from 2.5 million metric tons to 3.5 million metric tons a year.
Canpotex attributed the expansion to recent progress on the Columbia River channel deepening project. With a 43-foot channel, Canpotex can charter ships capable of carrying as much as 10 percent more potash per vessel.
Canpotex’s member producers mine potash in Saskatchewan, Canada, and Canpotex rails it to Portland for export.