Weekly North American pulp and paper rail freight up 1.5%, up 2.3% through 51 weeks; lumber surges

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

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 2, 2012 (RISI) - North American pulp and paper railroad freight traffic for the latest week ending Dec. 24 was up 1.5% from a year ago to 9,998 carloads, the Assn of American Railroads reported. Volume through 51 weeks of 2011 at 486,269 carloads was 2.3% higher than in 2010.

US pulp and paper traffic was up 4.9% in the week and 4.4% higher year-to-date. Canadian volume was down 3.4% in the week and down 1% year-to-date. Mexican freight dropped 48.3% in the week and was unchanged year-to-date.

In November, combined US-Canada pulp and paper freight was down 2.6% from 2010 and was 4.8% higher than in 2009, AAR showed in its latest Rail Time Indicators report.

Genesee & Wyoming reported its pulp and paper volume in November was up 1.3% from a year ago. RailAmerica showed its November volume was down 10.2% from 2010.

North American lumber and wood products rail traffic for the week ending Dec. 24 surged 24.7% from a year ago and through 51 weeks at 270,333 carloads was 10.8% higher than in 2010.

Primary forest products freight was up 14.4% in the week and 2% lower year-to-date.

US-Canada lumber and wood products freight in November was up 17.6% from 2010 and 32.7% higher than 2009, AAR showed.