Pulp and paper rail freight rises 2.5% in 2010 in North America

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

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 7, 2011 (RISI) - Pulp and paper rail freight in North America for full-year 2010 was 2.5% higher with the last week of the year showing an increase of 18.8% from 2009, according to the Assn of American Railroads.

North American pulp and paper carloads reached 485,932 units in 2010 compared with 474,038 units in 2009.

US pulp and paper carloads for the year were 1.7% higher, Canada was up 3.9% and Mexico was 4.2% lower, AAR showed.

North American lumber and wood products freight for 2010 was 9.6% higher to 241,764 carloads and in the latest week ending Jan. 1 surged 26.9% over 2009.

Primary forest products volume was 3.3% higher for the year and up 11.9% in the latest week.

Total North American rail freight was up 9.4% for the year and 6.9% higher in the latest week.