Weekly pulp and paper rail freight rises 10% in North America

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

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 4, 2011 (RISI) - North American pulp and paper rail freight for the week ending Jan. 29 was 9.9% higher to 9,924 carloads, according to the Assn of American Railroads. Year-to-date pulp and paper rail freight through four weeks of 2011 at 39,085 carloads was up 7.7% from the same period of 2010.

US pulp and paper volume in the week was up 11.4% to 6,122 carloads, Canada was 6.2% higher to 3,741 carloads and Mexico surged over 300% from a year ago to 61 carloads.

North American lumber and wood products freight for the week ending Jan. 29 at 5,145 carloads was up 7.3% and through four weeks at 18,606 carloads was 5.5% higher.

Primary forest products volume rose 3.9% in the week and was down 3.3% year-to-date, AAR showed.

Total North American rail freight for the week rose 4.8% and year-to-date was 6% higher. Weekly Mexico rail traffic was 13% higher.