Best-ever November for CP grain shipments

Dec 1, 2020 | 3:28 PM

CALGARY, AB. — Canadian Pacific (CP) Rail has had a number of exception months this year for keeping grain on the move.

November was no exception, as CP Rail had the best-ever November and second-best-ever month for shipping Canadian grain and grain products, with 2.96 million metric tonnes (MMT) moved.

That number exceeds the previous November record in 2019 by 8 percent, and is second only to October 2020 for total monthly tonnage. CP has shipped 11.13 MMT of Canadian grain and grain products in the 2020-2021 crop year, exceeding the amount shipped at this time in the 2019-2020 crop year by 15 percent.

The Rail company began investing in new rail cars in 2018, when it placed an initial order for 1,000 cars from Hamilton-based National Steel Car and expected to order about 5,900 of the grain hoppers over four years. So far, more than 3,700 new hopper cars have been added to the CP fleet, via purchase or lease.

The new high-efficiency railcars carry 15 percent more grain by volume and 10 percent more by weight compared to the older cars they are replacing. It’s the result of a more than half a billion dollar investment, which was part of its commitment to the North American agricultural sector.

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CP Vice-President Sales and Marketing Grain and Fertilizers, Joan Hardy, explains that from a combine’s first cut in the field, to a ship’s departure from port, so many dedicated individuals, teams and organizations come together to make grain transportation a success.

“As we reflect on the record movements of grain this crop year, we must think about the hard-working people across the supply chain who’ve helped to feed the world in a year of great adversity.”

CP voluntarily publishes a weekly Canadian ‘scorecard’ for the grain and grain product supply chain, which outlines CP’s performance for the previous grain week. When necessary, it includes, detailed information on any internal or external factors affecting grain movement.

by Dori Modney