This ranking has not changed during the ten-year period prior to August 1, 1997. Although all of the major grain companies have rationalized their network of primary elevators over the last 10 years, there are some significant differences between companies. The others category of primary elevators has the highest average storage capacity primarily because it includes large former inland terminals. Parrish and Heimbecker are next in size with an average storage capacity of 8,881 tonnes as of August 1, 1997. Cargill has more than doubled its average storage capacity to about 7,900 tonnes.
Turnover is important because it is an indicator of the elevator's economic performance.
Farmer deliveries are highly dependent on production and exports and as a result vary significantly from year to year. Despite fluctuating grain deliveries, turnover has generally increased over the last 10 years. Average turnover in Western Canada increased from 4.4 times in 1987 to a record 5.6 in 1996 due to lower storage capacity . Although all provinces show an increase in the turnover ratio, AB and BC show the highest increase due to the largest decline in total elevator storage capacity. The first terminal, with storage capacity of 9,500 tonnes, was built by CPR on Lake Superior at Thunder Bay, Ontario in time to handle the 1884 crop.