Weekly North American pulp and paper freight down 1.8%; lumber rises 15.5%

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

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 11, 2011 (RISI) - North American pulp and paper railroad freight was off 1.8% in the latest week ending Nov. 5 compared with a year earlier, the American Assn of Railroads reported. Volume through 44 weeks of 2011 at 420,777 carloads was 3.1% above the same period last year.

Weekly US pulp and paper freight was 3.7% higher, Canada was 10.1% lower and Mexico dropped 25.5%, AAR showed.

North American weekly lumber and wood products freight surged 15.5% from a year ago and through 44 weeks at 232,930 carloads was 9.8% higher than 2010.

Primary forest products freight was up 2.5% in the week and down 3.5% year-to-date.

Total North American rail freight in the week was 3.1% higher than 2010 and year-to-date was up 2.1%.

RailAmerica reported its October pulp and paper freight was down 7.3% from 2010 and forest products were 4.7% higher. The company's total freight in the month was down 1.9%.

Genesee & Wyoming showed pulp and paper freight in October was down 4.2% and lumber and forest products was up 3% from 2010. Total freight was 14.2% higher led my metals carloads.