Service Update – All Modes
There are no service disruptions reported by any of the modes at this time.
Rail
CP Update (Intermodal) for week of June 8:
CP expects operating conditions to remain favorable across the network.
CP Intermodal Asset forecast this week:
Capacity is available across the network for intra-Canada traffic with some tightness in Edmonton
Ocean Freight
The Port of Prince Rupert reports that volumes have remained strong through the pandemic, led by dry bulk volumes. Total traffic was up 9% year-to-date to the end of May, however container volume was lower. The full report can be found at
Trucking
The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) reports rebound in cross-border truck volumes in late May, but volumes remain lower than last year. The CTA report can be found at
Supply Chain Commentaries
AAR Canadian Rail Traffic Data – Week 23
North American rail volume for the first 23 weeks of 2020 was 14,296,515 and intermodal units, down 11.7% compared with 2019.
Canadian railroads reported 68,464 carloads for the week ending June 6, down 18.7%, and 63,886 intermodal units, down 8.4% compared with the same week in 2019.
For the first 23 weeks of 2020, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 3,192,067 carloads, containers and trailers, down 7.6%. The detailed statistics for week 23 can be found at the first red bar below.
Conference Board of Canada – Trade Down in April
The Conference Board article comments on the trade volume trends highlighted in the Statistics Canada report issued last week. The report can be found at the second red bar below.
ITF Report Impact of COVID-19 on Global Trade
The International Transport Forum (ITF), an agency of the OECD, has issued a report forecasting the likely impact of COVID-19 on global freight transport. It estimates global freight transport could drop by 36% by the end of 2020. The report contains statistical information on the likely regional declines and also provides estimates of the resulting reductions in CO2 emissions. The ITF report can be found at the third red bar below.
FMA Government Relations
FMA has continuing communications with Transport Canada Surface Policy and Marine Policy officials and with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).
FMA Office Operations
FMA staff are primarily working from home. If you need to talk with us, please call me at 613-294-4569.
Updates are on the FMA Website
All the COVID-19 updates that FMA has issued are now uploaded to the website and there is a link to them on the home page at www.fma-agf.ca .
The FMA updates focus on the impacts of COVID-19 on supply chains.
Information and questions from members are encouraged and will be useful in our continuing outreach to FMA members and in our communications with the government and with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. All individual company information will be kept confidential.