Port of Churchill and Antwerp-Bruges Sign Strategic Agreement to Strengthen North Atlantic Trade Corridor
The Port of Churchill and Port of Antwerp-Bruges International have signed a landmark agreement to enhance trade, investment, and collaboration between Western Canada and Europe, creating a stronger North Atlantic trade corridor.
The partnership aims to facilitate the exchange of critical minerals, energy products, fertilizer feedstock, containers, and agricultural commodities, while opening channels for European investment, equipment, and manufactured goods to flow back into Churchill.
Chris Avery, President and CEO of Arctic Gateway Group, highlighted the economic potential: “This agreement will move critical minerals, energy, fertilizer, and other agricultural products more directly to Europe, while creating measurable benefits for Indigenous communities, Manitoba, and industry across Western Canada.”
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges, which handles nearly 300 million tonnes of cargo annually, offers one of Europe’s largest logistics and industrial networks. Kristof Waterschoot, CEO of POABI, emphasized Europe’s need for reliable sources of critical raw materials, energy, and agricultural inputs, referencing the Critical Raw Material Act (2024) and Clean Industry Deal (2025) as part of Europe’s strategic framework.
Under the agreement, the ports will collaborate on:
- Infrastructure alignment and logistics optimization
- Long-term partnership and investment opportunities
- Strategic development of trade flows between Churchill, Antwerp-Bruges, and Europe
- Joint studies and trade development initiatives
This initiative strengthens Canada’s Arctic Trade Corridor through the Hudson Bay Railway, positioning Churchill as a reliable Arctic gateway for global markets.
The collaboration also reflects POABI’s international development mandate, leveraging Antwerp-Bruges’ experience in sustainable port management and logistics innovation to support reliable North Atlantic trade.
