The volume of cargo shipped through Canada’s largest and busiest port was up six per cent in the first half of 2013 compared to the same period last year, reports Port Metro Vancouver.

The port handled 66.4 million tonnes of cargo in the first and second quarters. This growth was driven by an exceptional 2013 cruise season, thus far, and reflects continuing demand for high-quality Canadian commodities by Asian economies as well as strength in the Canadian economy, says Port Metro Vancouver.

Total foreign tonnage at Port Metro Vancouver increased seven per cent year-over-year to 52.7 million tonnes handled by mid-2013. Total domestic tonnage also increased by three per cent to 13.7 million tonnes handled.

Port Metro Vancouver is North America’s largest export port by tonnage. It trades $172 billion in goods annually with more than 160 trading economies, generating an estimated 100,000 jobs, $6.1 billion in wages and $9.7 billion in GDP.