North American pulp and paper rail freight up 7.3% in latest week

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

SAN FRANCISCO, March 4, 2011 (RISI) - North American pulp and paper rail freight for the latest week ending Feb. 26 at 9,939 carloads was 7.3% higher than a year earlier, according to AAR. For eight weeks of 2011, pulp and paper rail volume at 77,539 carloads was up 7.9% from the same period of 2010.

US freight was 5.2% higher in the week, Canada was up 11% and Mexico was down 11.1% from 2010.

North American lumber and wood products volume for the week at 5,115 carloads was 4.8% above last year, and through eight weeks at 37,918 carloads was 4.6% higher. Primary forest products was down 10.4% and 1.8% respectively.

Total rail freight for the week was up 2.1% and year-to-date at 2.95 million carloads was 4.7% above the same period of 2010.

Genesee & Wyoming reported its January pulp and paper rail freight was 23.5% above last year's levels. Lumber and forest products were 9.4% higher.