CN moves 2.96 million metric tonnes of grain in March

Executive Summary

• Canadian National Railway Company (CN) set a new record for March grain movement from Western Canada, exceeding 2.96 million metric tonnes.
• The company reported its highest-ever first-quarter grain movement results, driven by robust network performance and strong export demand.
• CN successfully maintained network velocity and quickly recovered from late-month weather disruptions affecting Vancouver and Prince Rupert terminals, aided by the seasonal reopening of the Port of Thunder Bay.

Key Details

• March grain movement volume: >2.96 million metric tonnes (new monthly record)
• Q1 grain movement: Highest ever recorded for the first quarter
• Weekly volumes: Surpassed 600,000 tonnes for two consecutive weeks, peaking at over 650,000 tonnes
• Network performance: Strong velocity maintained across both West Coast and eastern corridors
• Weather impact & recovery: Late-month weather events temporarily reduced terminal capacity in Vancouver and the Prince Rupert corridor; CN executed a rapid recovery to restore network velocity
• Key performance drivers: Record export demand, efficient operational recovery, and the seasonal reopening of the Port of Thunder Bay
• Operational focus: Continued execution of the 2025-2026 winter operations plan across the network to ensure proactive service delivery