This week we have received a number of inquiries from concerned parties about how Canada’s regulator (Transport Canada) will be treating the new amendments to the International Grain Code (via resolution MSC.552(108) which will take effect on Jan 01, 2026 and will be applicable to both new and existing ships.

The spirit of the amendment is to introduce a new optional loading condition aimed at improving flexibility and safety in the carriage of grain in bulk. It basically allows for a loading condition whereby a terminal may not be able to effectively trim cargo into the void spaces and can only pour cargo within the hatch opening. Here is an example:

First of all, please know that ALL grain facilities in West Coast Canada can effectively trim cargo holds and minimize void space, by virtue of either their velocity of loading – or ship loader configuration. Therefore this new 4th condition in the grain code, doesn’t really matter for our business here.

That being said, Transport Canada will be enforcing the new amendment to the code. This means that vessels arriving to load grain after Jan 01, 2026 will have to present a grain loading manual that has a classification society-approved amendment. Transport Canada have not made it clear if they will be giving a grace period – or flat out failing a vessel that is non-compliant. We expect that they will NOT issue a Readiness to Load certificate for non-compliant vessels. We encourage all vessel owners and operators to have this discussion with your Captains or via chartering chain with head owners to ensure your arriving vessel has made the necessary amendments before arrival in Canada. We understand that the IMO has been working on this for at least a couple of years therefore this amendment should come as no surprise to head owners – therefore we don’t anticipate too many problems for arriving vessels after Jan 01, 2026.

Please see checklist used by Transport Canada for arriving grain vessels that are required to submit their stability calculations here

We hope this information is useful.

The Pacific Pilotage Authority has issued a reminder regarding the Christmas Day premium. Pilotage charges will be doubled for any assignment in which a pilot is on board during any portion of December 25. Assignments completed at or after 0001 hours on Christmas Day, or those commencing before or up to 2359 hours on December 25, will be subject to the premium. While the Authority encourages vessels to avoid movements on Christmas Day where possible, it confirms that pilots will remain available should they be required.

Looks like we’re upon that time of year again; parties with coworkers, friends & family, seeing lights on the houses and decorated trees in the windows and perhaps even still, a general feeling of joy and togetherness. That’s right, it’s tariff increase season!

Following on the heels of the Port of Vancouver’s tariff increases announced in October, the Prince Rupert Port Authority has issued their notice of proposed tariff revisions, effective January 1, 2026. The new tariff will introduce an increase across several key fee categories; including harbour dues, wharfage fees, lighterage fees, berthage fees, and water service fees which will all rise by 2.5%, while anchorage fees remain unchanged at $0.00. The proposed adjustments are part of the port’s “regular review of its tariff schedule to support ongoing infrastructure and service delivery”.

And not to be outdone by their counter parts on the mainland, the Nanaimo Port Authority has given their 60 days’ notice of proposed changes for their wharfage, berthage, and harbour dues as set out in the draft 2026 Fee Document. These new charges will include an increase in Harbour Dues going from $0.094 to $0.097 per Gross Registered Tonnage, which will affect any vessel anchoring in Nanaimo harbour.

Bangladesh has unexpectedly become Canada’s largest wheat customer in the first quarter of the 2025–26 crop year, purchasing 546,900 tonnes, nearly ten times last year’s volume. The surge comes as Canada works to move a record 40-million-tonne wheat harvest, helping exports run ahead of last year’s pace. Analysts say Bangladesh values Canadian wheat quality and is taking advantage of low global prices, though demand may ease as Australian supplies enter the market. Bangladesh has also committed to buying significant volumes of US wheat under a new multi-year agreement. Still, its overall wheat imports are expected to grow alongside rising population, economic expansion, and increased consumption of wheat-based foods

Courtesy Chamber of Shipping

Australia has sent its first shipment of canola to China since 2020. The bulker, the Armonia A, carrying about 65,000 tonnes of canola, departed from Esperance, Western Australia on November 8 and set sail for the port of Qingdao, China, marking the first such shipment after trade restrictions were eased.

This was the first of five trial shipments to be sent under a new phytosanitary framework between the two countries. Australia’s main shipping period will be during the December 2025 through February 2026 timeframe. Australia had been shut out of the Chinese market since 2020 because of concerns regarding the fungal disease blackleg. The agreement signals Australia’s likely return as a major supplier to China, which is Canada’s largest and most profitable canola market.

The reopening of the Chinese market comes at an opportune time for Australian farmers, who are harvesting a bumper crop, while the news represents another blow for Canadian canola farmers who earlier this year saw the Chinese government slap a 76% tariff down on their oilseeds.

The Australian government is forecasting 6.39 million tons of canola production this year, which would be their fourth biggest crop on record. Australia typically exports about 5.7 million tons of the oilseed per year, while Canada ships about 7.2 million tons. Canada has exported 1.54 million tons of canola through week 14 of the 2025-26 crop year, down from 3.36 million tons a year ago.

It is also feared that Canada will now face increasingly stiff completion once they do regain open access to the Chinese market as Australia will benefit from lower freight costs to China. Leaving Canadian canola farmers hoping for much better tidings in 2026.

Canadian wheat exports are running at a record speed through the first 12 weeks of the 2025/26 (Aug/Jul) marketing year, marking the fastest pace ever recorded according to the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC). The crop year-to-date total of 5.1 million tonnes compares with 4.5 million tonnes at the same point a year ago and marks the fastest time Canadian wheat exports have ever reached five million tonnes.

Barley exports are also at a strong pace at just over one million tonnes, nearly double last year’s level (543,700 MT) through the same period.

On the other hand, canola exports have had a difficult start to the year with the current crop-to-date total of 1.2 million tonnes falling well short of last year’s mark of 2.9 million tonnes over the same period. Based on current projections canola exports are currently tracking toward an annual total of just 5.2 million tonnes versus 9.5 million tonnes in 2024/25. In spite of lower prices for the crop, China’s 76% tariff, effectively putting Canada’s main canola market on hold, is clearly taking its toll.

The Prince Rupert Port Authority released its monthly traffic report for November 2025, which showed a strong increase of over 30% in foreign cargo volumes across all terminals compared to November 2024. Total foreign cargo reached just over 2.2 million tonnes, up nearly 520,000 tonnes year-on-year, with all seven major Prince Rupert terminals recording gains

Year-to-date cargo by terminal has also seen a nearly 15 per cent increase, with 23.9 million tonnes since the start of 2025 through November compared to just under 21.9 million tonnes for the same period last year.

-Harbour (logs): 70,544 tonnes—161 per cent increase
-Watson Island (liquefied petroleum gas): 45,890 tonnes—99 per cent increase
-Westview (wood pellets): 91,862 tonnes—51 per cent increase
-Prince Rupert Grain: 607,441 tonnes—45 per cent increase
-Fairview (containers): 661,410 tonnes—26 per cent increase
-Ridley Island Propane Export: 227,277 tonnes— 20 per cent increase
-Trigon Pacific (coal, petcoke & liquefied petroleum gas): 525,543 tonnes—12 per cent increase

Logs, barley, canola, wheat, liquefied petroleum gas, petroleum coke, thermal coal and wood pellets all increased in total tonnes compared to November 2024. Metallurgical coal was the only foreign cargo that saw a decrease, while oats were the only one not imported or exported at all.  Logs saw a 161 per cent increase, with 70,544 tonnes, while thermal coal saw a 157 per cent increase with 185,706 tonnes. Barley and liquefied petroleum gas saw 100 and 99 per cent increases, respectively, as well.