Weekly North American pulp and paper rail freight up slightly

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

SAN FRANCISCO, May 27, 2011 (RISI) - North American pulp and paper rail freight was up 0.6% in the latest week ending May 21 to 8,758 carloads compared with 2010, the Assn of American Railroads reported. Volume through 20 weeks of 2011 at 192,514 carloads was 8.2% higher.

Weekly pulp and paper volume was 1% higher in the US, down 0.8% in Canada and almost triple in Mexico.

North American lumber and wood products rail freight for the week at 5,318 carloads was up 3.9% and year-to-date at 103,843 carloads was 5.1% higher.

Primary forest products freight was down 6.3% and 6.5% respectively.