Canadian Railways Supply 91 Percent of Grain Orders

The combined performance of CN and CPKC met 91 percent of grain shipping requirements during the eleventh week of the year.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Transportation

Isometric editorial illustration of a steel grain hopper car on tracks set in a minimalist winter prairie landscape. — Canadian railways Canadian National and CPKC fulfilled 91 percent of grain shipping orders in the eleventh week of the year. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Are Canada's two major railways performing adequately in meeting grain transport demands?

Canadian railways supplied 91 percent of grain shipper orders during week 11. CPKC fulfilled 99 percent of its requests, while CN met 82 percent of theirs.

Why it matters

Consistent rail car supply is essential for ensuring that grain reaches markets and export terminals efficiently. Tracking these figures helps stakeholders monitor the stability of the national grain supply chain.

Railways fulfilled 91 percent of total grain shipper orders in week 11, with CPKC performance reaching 99 percent while CN supplied 82 percent. This follows week 10 performance levels of 94 percent for CPKC and 86 percent for CN.

The players

CN is a major Canadian railway company that transports freight across North America.

CPKC

CPKC is a transnational railway operating in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

The details

Railways support the grain industry by fulfilling orders through the supply of requested rail cars. While CPKC has maintained performance at 90 percent or better for four consecutive weeks, CN performance saw a decline from 86 percent in week 10 to 82 percent in week 11.

During week 10, CN fulfilled 86 percent of orders and CPKC fulfilled 94 percent.
During week 11, CN fulfilled 82 percent of orders and CPKC fulfilled 99 percent.

Market Landscape

The current performance levels follow a pattern established by the historical average of Canadian grain rail performance. These weekly metrics provide a snapshot of how the two primary rail operators are navigating the logistical demands of the agricultural sector.

Consistent rail supply helps stabilize grain prices for domestic producers and export markets. Interruptions in car availability can cause delivery delays that impact the broader Canadian agricultural economy.

The takeaway

Reliable rail service remains a critical pillar for maintaining the flow of Canadian grain to international markets. Monitoring these weekly fulfillment percentages offers insight into the overall health of the nation's logistical corridors.