Sollio Agriculture's grain export maritime terminal, the construction of which started in the Anse au Foulon sector of the Port of Québec in 2018, is now fully operational. The terminal will allow the transshipment of one million tonnes of grain and cereals to new international markets during its first year of operation. By 2022, this number could reach 1.3 million tonnes, representing nearly $600 million in revenue for our local grain farmers.
The construction of the maritime terminal, which created around 50 direct and indirect permanent jobs, represents a $110 million investment and is expected to generate economic benefits of nearly $18 million per year for the Greater Québec City area until 2037. This project was primarily funded by Sollio Cooperative Group and made possible thanks to contributions from the Québec government, Investissement Québec and Fonds de solidarité FTQ. We should also highlight the Canadian government grant that the Port of Québec received to upgrade the port infrastructure required for the project.
An engine of prosperity for Québec and Canadian agriculture
Ocean vessels can be docked and loaded at the new terminal, which is supplied by ships from the Great Lakes and is also easy to reach by road and rail. This allows farmers to market their crops on a larger scale to markets such as Europe, Central America and the Middle East. Operating year-round, the terminal consolidates Sollio Agriculture's infrastructure along the St. Lawrence Seaway and in the Port of Québec, where it has maintained a presence for over 30 years.
The maritime terminal thus supports the prosperity of farming families from coast to coast by opening the doors to new international markets to which they previously did not have full access for exports such as corn, soybeans and wheat.
With its extensive footprint in the grain market and an integrated offer in crop merchandising, Sollio Agriculture is creating economies of scale that benefit farmers, in particular by developing long-term trading relationships with key buyers around the world and by helping farmers obtain the certifications needed to access new markets.
Source : Sollio Agriculture