Canada’s Port Saint John and global terminal operator DP World have completed the $178 million West Side Modernization Project, marking a major upgrade of the Atlantic port’s infrastructure and capacity.
The project was delivered through a public-private partnership, with Dubai-based DP World investing more than $54 million in terminal infrastructure between 2022 and 2025. The modernization is intended to strengthen the port’s role as a key Atlantic gateway for Canadian trade.
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said the project demonstrates the impact of long-term investment in people and the economy. She said the modernization is driving economic growth, creating hundreds of well-paying jobs, and positioning the province as an increasingly important link in Canada’s supply chain.
The completion comes as Canada’s newly elected federal government allocates $3.6 billion to a new Trade Diversification Corridors Fund. Proposed projects under the program include the Saint John Trade Corridor, which aims to upgrade road, rail, and logistics connections between the port and inland markets to improve the movement of exports and imports.
The federal initiative targets a doubling of Canada’s exports within a decade and the creation of more than $200 billion in new business opportunities.
The modernization significantly expands Port Saint John’s container-handling capacity, increasing annual throughput from about 150,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to up to one million TEUs. The port processed 184,879 TEUs in 2024 and also handles bulk and liquid cargo, ranking fourth among Canadian ports by volume and the busiest hub in Atlantic Canada.
DP World said the upgraded terminal strengthens the port’s appeal to international shippers seeking uncongested gateways with strong growth potential and reliable intermodal connectivity. The port connects to three Class I railways, including Canadian National, CPKC, and CSX, through the New Brunswick Southern Railway, which links to U.S. rail networks via Eastern Maine Railway.
RailState data shows inland container flows from Saint John increased by about 46% in daily TEU volume in early 2025, reflecting growing cargo momentum.
DP World’s investment added four quay cranes, mobile container-handling equipment, and advanced operational systems and technology. The project also expanded operational and maintenance facilities, upgraded workshops, and introduced specialized equipment to support diversified cargo, including pulp handling.
Doug Smith, chief executive of DP World in Canada, said the modernization represents a significant milestone in the company’s long-term partnership with the port. He said investments have focused on upgrading terminal operations, expanding capacity, and supporting workforce growth, aligned with the objective of building a resilient and globally competitive Atlantic gateway.
DP World currently employs more than 250 people locally, with further job growth expected as cargo volumes increase across terminal operations and the broader supply chain.
The port’s transformation has also attracted more than $540 million in additional private-sector investment from CPKC, ocean carriers, and cold chain specialist Americold, which plans to establish its first Canadian import-export hub at the port.
POLICY & LAW | EU Launches CATCH Digital Certification System for Seafood Imports
