Canadian pipeline operator Trans Mountain said it expects to see increased interest to ship on its system if the United States slaps tariffs on Canadian oil imports following the 30 day pause that was announced on Monday.
The pipeline, which can carry up to 890,000 barrels per day of crude from Alberta to the company’s terminal at Burnaby, B.C. has been about 80 per cent full, with about 20 per cent capacity available for spotshipping at a more expensive rate.
While exports of crude oil through the Trans Mountain’s pipeline represented only 9 per cent of Canada’s total crude exports, it has come under the spotlight after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would slap 10% tariffs on Canadian oil imports by the United States.
Nearly all of Canada’s oil exports – some 4 million barrels per day – head to the United States to be processed by refiners or re-exported from U.S. Gulf Coast ports to buyers in Asia.
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