The Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) is set to make significant investments in infrastructure this year to support major expansion projects, particularly in the agri-food sector, at Hamilton Harbour. One of the key projects includes Parrish & Heimbecker, a company leasing property at Pier 10, which is investing $125 million to expand its flour mill in 2025. Additionally, the SucroCan Sugar Refinery is dedicating $135 million to increase its refinery capacity to one million tonnes, also at Hamilton Harbour. The new SucroCan facility will replace its smaller plant at Pier 10 with a more modern facility at Pier 15.

The agri-food sector now accounts for 31% of HOPA’s total cargo, with 16 companies operating within this sector at the Port of Hamilton. Jonathan Wetselaar, HOPA’s director of capital projects, provided a detailed update on these upcoming initiatives, including further infrastructure developments at HOPA’s sites in Oshawa and Port Colborne. This update was shared with members of the Hamilton-Halton Construction Association during their Construction Forecast breakfast last week.

Wetselaar highlighted that HOPA’s project pipeline is “very, very healthy,” and pointed out that the ongoing agri-food projects demonstrate the success of HOPA’s decision to focus on the sector over the past decade. He explained that, with the decline of the steel industry, HOPA strategically shifted its focus towards agri-foods because they saw it as a growing industry with increasing demand for production and goods transportation. The decision to pivot towards this sector has paid off significantly, as evidenced by the current expansions at Hamilton Harbour.

Parrish & Heimbecker first launched operations at the Port of Hamilton in 2008, starting with a grain terminal. In 2017, the company opened Ontario’s first new flour mill in 75 years, followed by the addition of a second mill in 2020 that doubled its processing capacity. The upcoming expansion in 2025 will see the construction of two new storage silos designed to handle feed ingredients such as soymeal, distillers dried grains, and wheat to support the flour mills. This expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

In 2024, HOPA contributed to this growth by undertaking demolitions, as well as dock and land improvements, while also planning to tender access control upgrades at Ferguson Avenue in the first quarter of 2025. For the SucroCan expansion, HOPA is investing in the construction of a rail transload yard in 2024 and electrical distribution upgrades, which are both essential to the refinery’s operations. SucroCan’s goal is to have its new refinery ready by late summer 2025, with equipment installation currently underway, including the millwrights and pipe fitters setting up the necessary machinery. Wetselaar described the progress as impressive, noting the very aggressive timeline that is being met at an impressive pace.

In terms of export markets, Wetselaar acknowledged the challenges posed by the previous U.S. administration’s policies under Donald Trump, which impacted trade with the U.S. However, he emphasized that Hamilton’s agri-food sector is diverse, with exports reaching global markets including Europe and Africa, and not limited to the U.S.

In addition to the projects in Hamilton, HOPA also expanded its mandate to include the Port of Oshawa four years ago, where it oversees around 75 vessels annually. In 2025, two major projects are planned in Oshawa: a $13.5 million project to improve access and utilities at the East Wharf, and a $15 million initiative to protect the approach channel.

HOPA also took control of 41 acres of surplus Transport Canada land along the Welland Canal in Port Colborne in 2023. This land had remained undeveloped since the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway. HOPA is now supporting a $30 million investment by Canada Clean Fuels and CSL Group to develop a clean fuels terminal at this location.

For 2025, HOPA has earmarked a total of $44.5 million for its capital projects, which will be supported by federal National Trade Corridors funding. These ongoing and upcoming investments underscore HOPA’s commitment to enhancing the region’s infrastructure and supporting the growing agri-food sector.