US pulp and paper rail freight almost offsets fall in Canada and Mexico in latest week

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

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23, 2011 (RISI) - Pulp and paper freight on North American railroads for the week ending Sept. 17 at 9,348 carloads was 1.9% lower than a year earlier, the Assn of American Railroads reported. Volume through 37 weeks of 2011 at 356,053 carloads was up 4.3% from the same period of 2010.

Weekly US pulp and paper freight was up 4.1%, Canada dropped 11.2% and Mexico fell 30.8%.

North American lumber and wood products freight for the week at 5,718 carloads surged 18.6% from last year and through 37 weeks at 194,513 carloads was 4.3% higher.

Primary forest products volumes were down 2.6% and 4.7% respectively.

Total North American rail freight was down 0.4% in the week and was up 2% year-to-date.