Railway Carloadings Down in May

(Statistics Canada)

The Canadian railway industry loaded 19.1 million metric tonnes in May, down 21.4% from the same month in 2008. The drop in tonnage was the result of decreased freight loadings in both non-intermodal and intermodal railway transportation systems.

Compared with May last year, non-intermodal loadings fell 22.0% to 17.0 million metric tonnes in May. The decline was widespread, as the majority of commodity groups registered decreased activity. Among the commodity groups with the largest declines in tonnage were potash, coal, iron ore and concentrates, iron and steel (primary or semi-finished), lumber and other cereal grains.

Although overall non-intermodal loadings fell in May, a number of commodity groups saw strong gains in tonnage loaded, including wheat, colza seeds (canola) and fresh, chilled or dried vegetables.

Intermodal loadings declined 16.4% from May 2008 to 2.1 million metric tonnes. The drop stemmed from declines in both containers and trailers loaded onto flat cars.

Rail freight traffic coming from the United States fell 29.4% from May 2008 to 2.0 million metric tonnes. Complete statistic here.