CN on its way to meeting grain volume expectations

At the halfway mark of the 2022-23 crop year, CN has shipped over 15.2 million metric tons (MMT) of grain and processed grain products from western Canada, the Class I announced Feb. 10.

The railroad is "well on its way to meeting or exceeding" expected grain shipment volumes as outlined in its 2022-23 CN Grain Plan, company officials said in an online post.

Although terminal-related productivity issues in Vancouver, British Columbia, reduced supply-chain capacity in late October and early November 2022, the supply chain on CN "roared back" through the balance of November, CN officials said. The railroad hauled 3.02 MMT of grain shipments in November 2022, which was "just shy" of its all-time November record.

CN also logged its second-best weekly grain shipment record of 798,000 metric tons the week of Nov. 13, 2022. The following months continued the trend. December 2022 and January 2023 grain movement volumes totaled 2.55 MMT and 2.63 MMT, respectively, representing the second-highest volume ever recorded for each month, CN officials said.