February 5 - Larry Paulson, executive director of the port of Vancouver USA forecast a return to growth in 2010 following a year in which an increase in business from the wind energy industry helped offset losses elsewhere.

2009 was also marked by a sharp decrease in business at the port's marine terminals, with exports of building products such as lumber and steel leading the decline and the number of ships calling at the port falling by 100 to 403. The total tonnage of cargo handled fell to 4.8 million from 5.5 million the year previous. 

But the overall fall was offset by an increase in the volume of wind energy component imports through the port which jumped from just 362 in 2008 to 2,700 pieces last year.

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