MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA —CN announced on May 5 that, after having its second best first-quarter western Canadian grain transportation result with 6.59 million tonnes moved, the company moved 2.73 million tonnes in April, exceeding its previous April record of 2.72 million tonnes.

Movements also exceeded the three-year average of 2.55 million tonnes for April and March’s record result of 2.65 million tonnes. 

As the Canadian agricultural sector works to keep up with the increased demand for staple foods amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, CN said its railroaders are determined to keep the goods North Americans need moving.

CN’s cumulative total of all Canadian tonnage moved by CN for the 2019-20 crop year has reached 21.55 million tonnes so far, with 20.7 million tonnes coming from Western Canada.

“CN has never slowed down since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said J.J. Ruest, president and chief executive officer at CN. “Thanks to the efforts of our front-line railroaders and our supply-chain partners, CN has proven its resiliency yet again by delivering essential goods, including those of agri-food customers, to consumers across North-America. CN has the capacity ready to enable the eventual recovery of the economy.”

James Cairns, senior vice president of the rail-centric supply chain at CN, said despite difficult conditions, the company handled 51% of all Canadian grain rail shipments in the first quarter, including 52% of market share in March.

“We are in great shape and ready to deliver during the final months of the crop year,” Cairns said.

Movement of all Canadian grain tonnage was 6.86 million tonnes in the first quarter and 2.81 million tonnes in April.

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