North American pulp and paper rail freight rises 6% in latest week

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

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 28, 2011 (RISI) - North American pulp and paper rail freight in the week ending Jan. 22 at 9,559 carloads was 5.9% higher than a year ago, according to the Assn of American Railroads. Pulp and paper carloads through three weeks of 2011 at 29,156 were 6.9% higher than in 2010.

US pulp and paper freight through three weeks was 4.6% higher, Canada was up 10.5% and Mexico 34.5% above 2010 levels.

North American lumber and wood products rail freight for the week ending Jan. 22 at 4,720 carload was off 0.6% from a year ago and through three weeks of the year at 13,440 carloads was up 4.6%.

Primary forest products freight was down 2.9% and 5.6% respectively.