Industries and Growth Sectors

Here’s the first thing you need to know about Rupert’s economy: we’re a trade gateway, and not a quiet one. Does my harbour look fat in these pants? We’re home to North America’s deepest ice-free harbour, which just happens to offer the continent’s shortest shipping routes to Asia. More than $60 billion in trade flows through our port every year, supporting over $500 million in labour income and 5,500 jobs across northwest B.C. (For a town of our size, that’s the kind of stat that makes economists do a double-take.) And we’re not slowing down. In 2025, cargo volumes were up 14% over the previous year. In 2026, cruise visitation to Prince Rupert is expected to double. With more than $3 billion in capital projects currently under construction, Rupert is in the middle of a full-on growth spurt.