Railcar Unloads Advance 17%

WINNIPEG - Apr 29/02 - SNS -- The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) reported a 17% increase in railcar unloading activity at Canadian ports during the week ending April 27 with 4,182 cars unloaded.

Rail car unloads for all grains for Week 40 (week ending May 4) were 2,042 at Vancouver, up from 1,420 the previous week. Prince Rupert unloads were 368, down from 404 the previous week. At Thunder Bay, 1,772 cars were unloaded, compared to a total of 1,740 the previous week.

Primary elevator space for the week ending May 4 was 28.6%. Primary elevator space by province: Manitoba – 28%, Saskatchewan – 28% and Alberta – 29%.

During Week 40, 13 grain companies submitted bids under the tendering process. The CWB awarded seven tenders for movement of 200 cars of wheat and 175 cars of durum to Vancouver as well as 500 cars of wheat and 250 cars of durum to Thunder Bay.

              Canadian Elevator Space by Shipping Week
                  (per cent of free space)
Shipping Week       36        37        38        39        40
Manitoba          20.1      21.2      24.2      24.4       28.3
Saskatchewan      24.6      24.2      27.0      29.9       28.3
Alberta and B.C.  28.4      27.2      26.2      30.5       29.4
Total             24.8      24.8      26.2      29.0       28.6
           Number of Railcars Unloaded at Canadian Ports
            West Coast                    East Coast
            Total        CN       CP      Total       CN       CP
Week 36      2241      1395      846      1794      794      1000
Week 37      2263      1264      999      1931      736      1195
Week 38      2262      1390      872      1817      765      1052
Week 39      1824      1368      456      1740      550      1190
Week 40      2410      1451      959      1772      691      1081