According to Statistics Canada, in April, the volume of cargo carried by Canadian railways was down slightly (-0.3 percent) from April 2022 to 31.5 million tons. This was the first decrease following 11 consecutive months of year-over-year increases.
The overall volume of freight carried in April 2023 was on par with the five-year monthly average of 31.4 million tons.
April's small year-over-year decrease in total freight carried was entirely attributable to lower volumes of intermodal loadings (mainly containers) and freight traffic from connections with American railways.
In April, non-intermodal freight loadings (mainly commodities) in Canada increased for the 12th consecutive month, rising 5.1 percent year over year to 25.2 million tons, led by large increases in some agricultural and food products, notably grains.
These increases reflected a rebound in Canadian grain production due to good growing conditions during 2022.
In April, loadings of fuel oils and crude petroleum declined year over year for the 11th straight month, falling 22.9 percent (-239,000 tons), while loadings of other refined petroleum and coal products were down 24.1 percent (-162,000 tons).
Loadings of iron and steel, primary or semi-finished, also declined (-18.4 percent; -86,000 tons) following two months of increases.
In April, intermodal shipments—mainly containers—originating in Canada declined for the fifth consecutive month, down 16.5 percent year over year to 2.8 million tons.
Freight loadings from connections with American railways fell year over year for the eighth month in a row, down 17.9 percent to 3.5 million tons in April.