Total southbound traffic on CN in June was 82,266 cars, which was 3.5% lower than traffic in May (85,256 cars). CPKC showed a larger decrease in total southbound traffic from May to May, dropping 15%. Average daily southbound traffic for CPKC was 1533 cars per day, which is the lowest average daily southbound volume seen this year.
June saw 63,523 containers enter through the western Canada ports. This is a drop of 5.27% of total container volume from May and 12.6% lower volume than June 2022. Average daily volume was 2,117 containers per day. While June volume was lower than volume in May, it remained above container volume seen in October 2022 through April 2023.
Southbound traffic into the US declined in June on both carriers. CPKC saw a larger drop of 10.9% in southbound traffic compared to May, and CN saw a modest decrease of 2.8%. Based on data from June 1-15, this month is on pace to have the lowest total southbound traffic in the previous five months. Traffic moving northbound into Canada in June, however, is in line with trends so far this year.
Overall traffic moving into the western ports region is down 4.9% in the first two weeks of June. Total volume to the western ports region is on pace to hit 130,800 carloads by the end of the month, about 7,000 fewer carloads than in May. Daily average volume in June is 4,360 carloads per day, about 200 fewer carloads per day than the previous month.
CPKC sees strong volume to start the month; CN shows big decline from May. Total average daily volume for June is 2,111 containers per day, a drop of 2.41% from May.
Import traffic into the ports of Vancouver and Ridley eclipsed traffic moving westbound into the ports region in May, with 141,304 carloads coming into Canada compared to 137,550 moving toward the ports, a 3,754 carload difference.
Total southbound traffic from Canada was 134,124 cars in February, 139,283 in March, 138,996 in April, and 139,409 in May.
In May, more than 67,000 intermodal containers originated in Vancouver, resulting in a daily average volume of 2,163 containers per day. This represents a 18.4% increase in the daily average volume compared to April.
Widespread wildfires in Alberta have impacted freight volume through the region. On May 6, no trains moved westbound from Alberta. May 19-22 saw another period of significant variability.
Total southbound traffic from Canada was 134,124 cars in February, 139,283 in March, and 138,996 in April. CN commands the majority of that traffic, 62.4% of total southbound traffic over the past three months. This is higher than the proportion of total export traffic to western ports, for which CN moves 58% of total traffic.
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