Port of Churchill and Rotterdam Sign Agreement to Boost Transatlantic Trade

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sept. 28, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The Port of Churchill and the Port of Rotterdam have signed a strategic agreement aimed at enhancing transatlantic trade, particularly in critical minerals and energy products. This collaboration, facilitated by the Arctic Gateway Group (AGG), the operator of the Port of Churchill, and the Port of Rotterdam, a major European port, is expected to strengthen supply chains and open new markets for Western Canadian producers.

According to the agreement, the two ports will work together to develop resilient and diversified supply chains for critical raw materials, connect Canadian producers with European buyers, and facilitate new market connections. The partnership is part of Canada's broader strategy to build more efficient and resilient transportation corridors that link Western Canadian resources to global markets.

The Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, serves as a major gateway for critical raw materials and energy, with more than 3,000 businesses across its industrial complex. The Port of Churchill, identified as a transformative national strategy for Canada, is emerging as a Northern trade corridor connecting Western Canada’s resources to global markets. The agreement reflects the growing importance of the Port of Churchill, which has seen an increase in the number of products moving through the port.

In 2026, the Port of Churchill handled multiple grain exports for the first time since 2020, zinc concentrate, Manitoba-produced potash, and multiple northern resupply vessels serving Nunavut communities in Canada’s Arctic. This diversified shipping season underscores the port’s growing significance as a reliable and efficient route for Canadian resources to access world markets.

As part of the agreement, AGG and the Port of Rotterdam will host a full-day Critical Minerals & Trade Forum in Winnipeg on September 29, 2026. The forum will focus on how Canada and Europe can capitalize on the growing opportunity to build secure critical mineral supply chains, attract investment, and develop new trade. The event will bring together mining and critical mineral companies, investors, government representatives, and supply-chain partners to explore new opportunities for trade and investment.

The partnership between the two ports is seen as a significant step in strengthening trade relationships between Canada and Europe.

The agreement highlights the growing recognition of the Port of Churchill as a shorter, more economical trade route from Western Canada. With the Port of Rotterdam serving as a major industrial hub, the partnership is expected to open thousands of new doors for trade and investment opportunities between Canada and Europe.