The Port of Montreal and DP World Canada have signed a joint development agreement to advance the long-awaited container terminal project at Contrecoeur on the St. Lawrence River. The move marks a major milestone in expanding Montreal’s container handling capacity, with construction expected to begin later this year and full commissioning scheduled for 2030.
Under the agreement, DP World Canada will work closely with the Montreal Port Authority in the coming months to finalize the design of the land-based facilities and set the terms of a construction and operating contract. The contract, which comes into effect with the start of land work in 2027, grants DP World a 40-year operating term for the new terminal.
DP World will oversee construction of the container yard, buildings, utilities, and rail connections, while the Port of Montreal and the Canadian Coast Guard will be responsible for water-side infrastructure. The terminal will feature two berths, dedicated container handling and storage areas, and direct connections to rail and road networks to streamline cargo flows.
With existing facilities on Montreal Island nearing full capacity — handling 1.5 million TEU in 2024 — the Contrecoeur terminal is expected to add an additional 1.15 million TEU in annual capacity, representing a nearly 60 percent expansion.
The port began acquiring land for the project in the 1980s, positioning Contrecoeur, about 50 miles northeast of the city, as the logical next step in its growth. Site preparation is expected to start this year, with in-water work slated for 2026.
For DP World, the deal represents its first entry into the Port of Montreal. The company already operates six Canadian port facilities in Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Fraser Surrey, Nanaimo, and Saint John.
