(Statistics Canada)
The volume of cargo carried by Canadian railways rose in July, as both commodity loadings in Canada and traffic received from the United States increased.
Total freight traffic originating in Canada and received from the United States rose to 24.7 million metric tonnes, up 19.6% from July 2009. Compared with July 2009, freight loaded in Canada increased 17.4% to 22.3 million metric tonnes in July. The Canadian railway industry’s core transportation systems, non-intermodal and intermodal, both contributed to the rise in cargo loaded.
Non-intermodal freight loadings, which are typically carried in bulk or loaded in box cars, rose 18.5% to 19.9 million metric tonnes. The commodity groups with the largest increases in tonnage were iron ores and concentrates, potash and iron and steel (primary or semi-finished). In contrast, several commodity groups registered declines. Loadings of lumber led the way, followed by wood pulp and other cereal grains.
Intermodal freight loadings, transported through containers and trailers loaded onto flat cars, increased 8.3% to 2.3 million metric tonnes in July, compared with the same month the previous year.
Rail freight traffic coming from the United States rose to about 2.5 million metric tonnes in July, up 44.3% from July 2009. Non-intermodal freight transported from the United States contributed to the increase.
From a geographic perspective, 55.3% of the freight traffic originating in Canada was in the Western Division of Canada, with the remainder loaded in the Eastern Division. The Eastern and Western Divisions, for statistical purposes, are separated by an imaginary line running from Thunder Bay to Armstrong, Ontario. Freight loaded at Thunder Bay is included in the Western Division while loadings at Armstrong are reported in the Eastern Division. Read more
