North American pulp and paper freight lower in latest week; US rail strike averted

By James McLaren, Senior Editor, PPI Pulp & Paper Week, RISI

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 2, 2011 (RISI) - North American pulp and paper rail freight in the latest week ending Nov. 26 was down 4.3% from a year ago to 9,551 carloads, the Assn of American Railroads reported. Through 47 weeks of 2011, pulp and paper freight at 448,468 carloads was 2.8% higher than in 2010.

Weekly US pulp and paper freight was down 4.7%, Canada was off 2.8% and Mexico dropped 52.7%, AAR showed.

North American lumber and wood products rail volume in the week at 4,671 carloads rose 18.6% from a year ago and through 47 weeks at 248,480 carloads was 10.1% higher.

Primary forest products freight rose 15.3% in the week and was 3% lower year-to-date.

A potential US nationwide railroad strike was averted with a labor agreement reached with two holdout unions late Thursday. The National Carriers' Conference Committee (NCCC), the railroads' bargaining representative, has now settled with 12 of 13 unions, sidestepping a strike that could have occurred as soon as Dec. 6. The remaining unsettled union has extended negotiations with NCCC.