Canadian Rail Freight Traffic Rises for Third Consecutive Month in June

On Tuesday, Statistics Canada (StatCan) reported that Canadian railways transported 30.9 million tons of freight in June, up 3.2% from a year earlier and marking the third consecutive monthly increase. Increased loadings of grains and other commodities more than offset steep declines in iron ores and coal, while higher freight volumes from US rail connections also contributed to the increase.

Overall freight tonnage was the highest recorded for June in seven years. Year-to-date through June, Canadian railways moved 190.6 million tons of cargo, up 1.3% from the same period last year.

The increase in total freight carried in June reflected higher volumes of domestic non-intermodal freight, mainly commodities, as well as increased traffic from US rail connections.

Intermodal shipments originating in Canada, mainly containers, declined 0.6% year-over-year to 3.2 million tons—the fourth consecutive monthly decrease.

Freight loadings from US railways rose for the fifth consecutive month, increasing 20.3% year-over-year to 3.8 million tons. This was the second-highest June volume on record.