Oh Valentine’s Day.
You’re a silly holiday, but that’s not such a bad thing. Really, any excuse to shower our loved ones with hugs and kisses is alright by us.
And then there are the gifts. There are 8,227,925 couples in Canada, which means a lot of giving (and spending) every Valentine’s Day. From chocolates to flowers, greeting cards and those cute little cards elementary school kids give each other, Canadians simply love exchanging gifts on February 14th.
This is especially true in Vancouver.
More than 19,000 metric tonnes of chocolate and candy came through the Port of Vancouver in 2018 alone, according to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the federal agency responsible for the stewardship of the Port of Vancouver. That’s 41,887,400 POUNDS of candy, caramel, chocolate and all other confectionery you might consider gifting on Valentine’s. Needless to say, Vancouver’s got a sweet tooth, but that’s not all...
We simply love giving gifts! Canadians spend an average of $164 on Valentine’s Day each year, resulting in one of the highest-spending days of the year.
This year, terminals at the Port of Vancouver are also expecting to receive approximately 939 metric tonnes of greeting cards and 30,000 metric tonnes of flowers and flower accessories brought into the port in containers, and connecting Canadians with the essentials they need to celebrate Valentine’s Day with friends and loved ones.
There’s a good chance most of the items you’ll be giving or receiving this Valentine’s Day were brought into Canada through our port city. The Port of Vancouver, which accommodates 25 million tonnes of imported and exported goods in containers each year, accounts for more than half of Canada’s total annual exports. Approximately $1 in $3 of Canada’s trade in goods beyond North America move through the port, with a significant portion of these goods moving in containers.
The Port of Vancouver is made up of many players working together to keep the supply chain moving. From shipping lines, marine pilots and tugboat operators, to longshore workers, rail lines and terminal operators, among many others, the port operates a complex system that keeps our goods (and Valentine’s Day gifts) flowing.
The Port of Vancouver supports businesses across the country and connects consumers with the gifts they love giving to the people they love most. From trade to tourism and gifts, we are all reliant on our port city!To learn more, visit portvancouver.com
