Many of our everyday comforts wouldn’t exist without sulphur, ethylene glycol, potash or canola oil. As international demand for these products grows, Pacific Coast Terminals’ exporting role becomes even more important in the global economy.
Sulphur
Sulphur is, without a doubt, vital to modern life. Some economists say that the more sulphur a country consumes, the higher its standard of living. Sulphur exists in food and medicine, is a building block of life for plants and animals, and is used to manufacture paper, cellophane, paint, textiles and other industrial products.
Most of PCT’s sulphur is destined for Asia, where it is used in fertilizer production. This bright yellow product is the 13th most abundant element in the earth’s crust and one of the most versatile and essential raw materials on earth. Sulphur comes from compounds found in raw natural gas. These compounds are extracted as a liquid and then formed into solid sulphur. PCT handles multiple varieties of sulphur including rotoform and prill.
Ethylene glycol
Ethylene glycol is a clear, odourless and biodegradable liquid that is also extracted from the natural gas fields. This product is an important base for the chemical and plastics industries.
Anti-freeze, plastic bottles, carpet fabric, fleece and polyester clothing are some of the many products made from ethylene glycol. Produced in Alberta, ethylene glycol is transported to PCT in tank cars via rail. The terminal receives 8,500 cars or 800,000 tonnes of glycol per year.
Because glycol is intolerant of impurities, PCT’s storage tanks are nitrogen padded to keep moist air out. To prevent any spillage, the tanks are surrounded by containment walls that hold more volume than the capacity of the tanks.
Potash
Potash refers to a number of forms of potassium (K) and is a natural resource found in the earth. Potassium is found in every cell of living plants and animals. Potash is an indispensable supplement to the natural nutrient content of soils.
Canada is the largest producer and exporter of Potash in the world which contributes over $18 billion to Canada’s economy. By 2050, on decreasing farmland, yields will have to increase by 70% in order to feed the world’s growing population.
PCT handles approximately 1,800,000 tonnes of solid bulk potash on behalf of K+S Potash Canada (KSPC). KSPC is a subsidiary of K+S Aktiengesellschaft, which is Europe’s largest producer of potash.
Potash is produced in several grades, of which KSPC provides granular (pink) and standard (white).
Canola Oil
PCT handles about 700,000 tonnes of canola oil per year produced from across the prairies. The product is unloaded from railcars in an unloading facility that provides flexibility and efficiency in bulk liquids unloading. The canola oil is stored in three tanks which provide a total of 45,000 tonnes of storage.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:
Pacific Coast Terminals
Email / 604.931.7371
