Welcome to The Merchants Exchange

In 1879 Boss Shenck's Saloon, on the Portland waterfront, was an early gathering place for the maritime trade. News of ship arrivals was posted by patrons and the establishment became the birthplace of the Merchants Exchange of Portland.

The Merchants Exchange remains, more than 130 years later, an integral part of the maritime industry of the lower Columbia and Willamette rivers.

We are a not-for-profit, membership based association, and provide information and services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In addtion to reporting on ship arrivals and departures and facilitating the exchange of information within the maritime community, the Exchange performs answering services for many of our members, publishes cargo and vessel statistics, and provides extensive association management services.

Our Mission 

To encourage, extend and promote the common business interest of those parties in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States who are involved in marine transportation, the distribution of Pacific Northwest agricultural products, and related areas of domestic and foreign commerce.

Calendar of Events