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Trans Mountain Tanker Traffic Nears Full Capacity in July, RBC Says

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Oil tanker traffic from Trans Mountain's Westridge Marine Terminal rose in July, with export volumes reaching a monthly high and suggesting the pipeline operated near full capacity, RBC Capital Markets analysts said in a Tuesday note.

A total of 29 tankers departed the Burnaby, British Columbia, terminal during the month, two more than in June.

The number of loadings suggests the Trans Mountain Pipeline operated at or above its contracted capacity of 712,000 barrels per day, RBC said.

About 30 Aframax tanker loadings a month would correspond to full utilization of the pipeline's 890,000-barrel-per-day nameplate capacity.

Asia-Pacific remained the main destination for Canadian crude. China accounted for 16 port destinations, unchanged from June, while five shipments went to South Korea, up from three, and one went to Japan.

Five loadings were destined for California, down from eight in June, while three shipments went to Washington state, up from one. One shipment went to Alaska, compared with two in June. Two tankers delivered cargoes to multiple destinations.

RBC said it observed no ship-to-ship transfers in the Pacific Lightering Area during July.

Crude exports from Vancouver rose 3% from June to 15.3 million barrels, marking a fifth consecutive monthly increase after a downturn around the turn of the year.

The US accounted for 27% of July volumes, while 73% went directly to Asia-Pacific. That compared with a 21% US share and a 79% Asia-Pacific share over the previous six months, excluding the impact of ship-to-ship transfers.

RBC said continued demand for Canadian crude in Asia supports the case for additional west coast export capacity.

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