Americold Realty Trust, a global leader in temperature-controlled logistics, real estate and value-added services, has opened its import-export hub at Port Saint John in New Brunswick, Canada during Port Days 2026, the Port’s annual maritime and industry conference.

Developed in collaboration with DP World and Canadian Pacific Kansas City, the facility is the first of its kind globally to combine Americold’s cold storage operations, DP World’s maritime logistics capabilities, and CPKC’s rail network in a single location. Together, these capabilities create a more direct and reliable pathway for moving perishable goods between inland production regions and international markets.

“This facility leverages our collaboration with leading global trade and transportation partners, creating a uniquely integrated solution to move temperature-sensitive products between inland production regions and international markets more efficiently and reliably,” said Rob Chambers, CEO at Americold. “It is another example of how we are evolving our network to better serve our customers through differentiated solutions that open new growth opportunities for the company. The launch of this facility further supports our 2026 priorities and positions Americold for sustainable long-term growth and shareholder value creation.”

Located at one of North America’s fastest-growing trade gateways, the facility is designed to support flows between Central and Eastern Canada and Europe, South America, and the Asia-Pacific region. As the only temperature-controlled storage solution in Eastern Canada directly connected to a port without drayage, it removes intermediate transport between vessel and warehouse, helping reduce both cost and transit time.

“The grand opening of this new cold storage facility at Port Saint John marks an important milestone in CPKC’s growing collaboration with Americold,” said Keith Creel, CPKC president and CEO. “By combining this state-of-the-art facility with CPKC’s three-nation rail service, we are creating a new temperature-controlled supply chain that connects Atlantic Canada to key markets across Canada and throughout North America. Working with Americold and JD Irving’s NBM Railways, CPKC has helped deliver a secure, seamless and integrated solution that is truly unique and one our competitors simply cannot replicate.”

The Port Saint John hub provides approximately 22,000 pallet positions and is designed to support high-throughput import and export volumes. Its configuration enables more efficient handling across transportation modes, giving customers greater visibility and control over their supply chains.

“The operational launch of the Americold facility at Port Saint John reflects the progress we are making in aligning terminal operations, inland rail connectivity, and temperature-controlled storage,” said Doug Smith, CEO of DP World in Canada. “By coordinating these capabilities, we enable customers to move perishable goods through the port with greater consistency and efficiency as they connect to global markets.”

The Americold facility builds on continued investment in port and rail infrastructure, positioning Port Saint John as a growing gateway for global containerized shipping.

“Americold is a tremendous addition to Port Saint John and to the broader trade ecosystem taking shape at our gateway,” said Craig Bell Estabrooks, president and CEO of Port Saint John. “Their import-export hub on the waterfront strengthens our role in enabling trade diversification and driving economic prosperity in New Brunswick and beyond.”

Americold’s investment in the facility is expected to support up to 100 jobs and contribute to ongoing economic development in New Brunswick.

The Port Saint John hub represents a key step in Americold’s strategy to leverage its infrastructure and strategic partnerships to better connect production to consumption across the global cold chain.

Source: Americold