Weekly North American pulp and paper rail freight up 4.7%

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

SAN FRANCISCO, May 16, 2011 (RISI) - Pulp and paper rail freight in North America was 4.7% higher in the latest week to 9,249 carloads, the Assn of American Railroads reported. Volume through 18 weeks of 2011 at 174,485 carloads was 8.5% higher than in 2010.

US shipments in the week were up 4.1%, Canada rose 5.1% and Mexico was 110% higher, AAR showed.

North American lumber and wood products freight for the week slipped 2.5% and year-to-date was up 5.6%. Primary forest products volume was down 10.8% and 6.6% respectively.

Short line rail operator Genesee and Wyoming showed April pulp and paper freight was 11.9% higher than a year ago and lumber and forest products volume was 8.3% lower.