The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology

CN and CP report latest grain transport records

(Posted on 11/02/21)

Canadian Pacific moved 2.22 million metric tonnes (MMT) of Canadian grain and grain products in January 2021. This exceeds the previous January record in 2020 by 6 percent. CP has shipped 16 MMT of Canadian grain and grain products in the 2020-2021 crop year, exceeding the amount shipped at this time in the 2019-2020 crop year by more than 13 percent.

“CP, our customers and other supply chain participants have once again collaborated to move record amounts of grain through the month,” said Joan Hardy, CP Vice-President Sales & Marketing Grain and Fertilizers. “Despite a rainy start in Vancouver, the efficiency and effectiveness of the CP service model and the resiliency of the supply chain allowed for recovery through the month and supported this strong result.”

CP continues to invest in its grain fleet with additional hopper cars coming into service each week. CP has added more than 3,800 new hopper cars to its fleet via purchase or lease. The new high-efficiency railcars carry 15 percent more grain by volume and 10 percent more by weight compared to the older cars they are replacing.

CN earlier announced that for the 11^th consecutive month it has set a new record by shipping over 2.95 million metric tonnes (MMT) of Canadian grain and processed grain products via carload in January. This exceeds the previous January record set in 2019 of 2.33 MMT by 27%, as well the three-year average of 2.24 MMT by 32%.

This brings the volume of grain moved via carload in the first half of the 2020-2021 crop year, which spans from early August to the end of the following July, to over 17.5 MMT. This is 24% higher than the three-year average of 14.1 MMT, and 17% higher than the record of 14.9 MMT set in the 2018-2019 crop year.

CN is also breaking records with over 600,000 metric tonnes of grain moving direct from western Canada via container, in addition to volumes shipped from eastern Canada.

"What great news to start off 2021. I could not be prouder to see such fluidity and collaboration across all supply chains at the same time, especially in Canadian grain. We know that harsher weather is always just around the corner, so it is critical that we keep up the pace and collaboration that we have seen in the first half of the crop year to keep goods moving. I want to thank our railroaders, the ports, Canadian grain farmers, as well as all of our supply chain partners; this ongoing collaboration and constant communication is critical to the recovery of the North American economy,” said Rob Reilly, executive vice-president and chief operating officer at CN.