CP Sets Crop Year Grain Record

Written by Andrew Corselli
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CP's grain cars have been busy.

Canadian Pacific hauled more Canadian grain and grain products in the 2019-2020 crop production year than any in its 139-year history. In total, CP moved 29.52 million metric tonnes (MMT) this crop year, exceeding last year’s record of 26.77 MMT by 2.75 MMT, or 10%.

In addition to the record crop year, CP had its best-ever July for transporting Canadian grain and grain products, with 2.58 MMT hauled. The July record is CP’s ninth monthly record set during the 2019-2020 crop year.

This year’s successes “are a testament to the efficiency of the 8,500-foot High Efficiency Product (HEP) train model,” CP said. “An 8,500-foot HEP train can carry in excess of 40% more grain than the 7,000-foot train model when combined with the additional capacity of CP’s new high-efficiency hopper cars. Customers are actively investing in their elevator networks to accommodate 8,500-foot trains. By year-end, more than 30% of the CP-served unit train loaders will be 8,500-foot HEP qualified, increasing capacity and efficiency in the grain supply chain for customers and stakeholders.”

This year, CP said it moved more than 650,000 metric tonnes of western Canadian grain to export markets in containers. With containerized grain included in the total, CP transported more than 30 MMT during the crop year.

CP continues to take delivery of high-capacity grain hopper cars as part of a half-billion-dollar commitment in 2018 to purchase 5,900 of the newest-generation railcars. The new cars can carry 10% more grain by weight and 15% more by volume than the older Government of Canada cars they are replacing; more than 2,900 are now in service. As a result of this capacity upgrade, the amount of grain CP was able to transport in each railcar increased by 1 metric tonne from a year earlier.

To see CP’s Grain Report, click here.

“The world depends on Canadian farmers for food and we understand the important role CP and the grain supply chain play in getting crops to market,” said Keith Creel, CP President and CEO. “In this banner crop year, the men and women of CP proved again they’re more than ready for the task. I am immensely proud of the CP family and the entire grain supply chain in delivering a second consecutive crop-year record, and by such a significant margin. This truly shows the value of CP’s capacity for the movement of grain.”

“Viterra depends on efficient, reliable transportation year-round,” said Kyle Jeworski, President and CEO of Viterra. “With CP’s 8,500-foot HEP train model, Viterra can move more grain with each train, creating efficiencies for the whole supply chain. And CP’s reliable service throughout the crop year helped enable Viterra to meet our customers’ needs. I look forward to CP’s and Viterra’s shared success in meeting the demands of our Canadian farmers and global customers in the coming crop year.”

“Today’s announcement of CP’s biggest-ever crop-year haul is a bright spot for Canada’s agricultural sector,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “I want to congratulate CP for reaching this historic milestone, which would not have been possible without their strategic investments into the future, including their upgraded hopper car fleet. Our Government knows just how important grain farmers are to Canada’s food supply and our economy, which is why we continue to open new markets and make improvements to our rail transportation system. While COVID-19 has affected many areas of the economy and many individual farmers, today’s announcement demonstrates how our agriculture sector is well positioned to lead our nation’s economic restart.”

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