Port braces for lower container volume after Nackawic mill closure
Port Saint John officials say the announced closure of the AV Nackawic pulp mill will have a measurable effect on container traffic through the harbour, though the port expects to absorb the loss through other business lines.
In remarks reported by local media, Port Saint John president and CEO Craig Bell Estabrooks said shipments tied to the mill account for roughly 5 to 10 per cent of overall container volume and closer to 15 to 20 per cent of export tonnage in some years.
"From our standpoint, they’re about five to 10 per cent of our overall (container) volume and about 15 to 20 per cent in any given year right now of our exports," Estabrooks said.
He told reporters the loss is not only a commercial concern but an emotional one for the region. "This is a tough, tough moment," Estabrooks said, emphasising the human impact on employees and families connected to the mill.
Port operations and strategy
Port Saint John has relied on forest products as a steady component of its container business since before its modernisation, Estabrooks noted. He recalled how shipments from AV Nackawic helped demonstrate the port’s value to container lines in earlier years and described that cargo as an "anchor" for the harbour’s export profile.
At the same time, Estabrooks highlighted the port’s strategic approach to managing risk through a diverse mix of sectors. He said that diversity should limit the immediate financial hit to port operations and allow managers to pursue other revenue streams as they work through the loss of AV Nackawic-related traffic.
- Immediate impact: AV Nackawic represented an important share of container exports.
- Local consequences: Employees and families tied to the mill face hardship.
- Port response: Diversification of cargo and sectors is expected to moderate business effects.
What this means for Saint John
For Saint John residents, the mill closure is likely to be felt in a few ways. There may be a short-term reduction in container throughput at the port and a loss of regular-cargo business that supported lines, labour and related services. The longer-term effects will depend on how quickly the port can replace that cargo with other exports and whether affected workers find alternative employment locally or elsewhere.
Port Saint John’s commentary stops short of projecting specific financial losses, but the percentages cited provide a snapshot of the cargo mix and the role AV Nackawic played in the port’s recent export totals. Officials pointed to the port’s modernised infrastructure and diverse customer base as assets that should help stabilise operations while the region adjusts.
| Item | Reported share |
|---|---|
| Overall container volume | 5–10% |
| Export volume in a given year | 15–20% |
Port officials also called attention to the human element of the closure, urging the community to consider the families affected and the broader social consequences. As the port seeks to maintain steady operations, municipal and provincial stakeholders will be watching for labour-market impacts and any ripple effects on related businesses in Saint John and surrounding areas.
Further developments — including any efforts to replace lost cargo or support displaced workers — will shape how pronounced the closure’s effects prove to be for Port Saint John and the city’s economy.
