Railway carloadings, February 2026
Released: 2026-04-27
29.4 million metric tonnes
February 2026
9.8% 
(12-month change)
Highlights
In February, the volume of cargo carried by Canadian railways totalled 29.4 million tonnes, up 9.8% from February 2025, driven by increases in loadings of some agricultural products, container movements and freight from US connections.
While rail freight transport often slows in February because of fewer days and colder weather, the volume carried in February 2026 was above the five-year average for the month, and just under the high of 30.7 million tonnes from February 2024.
Consult the Rail Data Visualization Hub to explore monthly and annual rail statistics in an interactive format.
Chart 1
Railway carloadings, total tonnage
The growth in rail traffic in February was the result of higher volumes across all types of rail operations: non-intermodal loadings (mainly commodities) and intermodal loadings (mainly containers), as well as freight traffic from connections with American railways.
Potash loadings lead increase
After two monthly year-over-year declines, commodity traffic in Canada grew 8.3% to 23.2 million tonnes in February 2026. Leading the gain was potash, with loadings rising sharply by 26.8% (+438 000 tonnes) from February 2025.
Rail carloadings of certain agricultural products also registered strong gains in February 2026, driven by a bumper harvest from 2025. For instance, loadings of fresh, chilled or dried vegetables increased by 349 000 tonnes, more than two times the volume in February 2025.
Similarly, loadings of canola grew 59.1% (+325 000 tonnes) in February 2026 compared with February 2025, the largest such increase in more than a year, mainly on higher exports to China, France and Japan.
Chart 2
Railway carloadings, largest commodity differences, February 2025 to February 2026
Some commodities edge down
Growth in non-intermodal freight traffic in February 2026 was moderated to some extent by small tonnage decreases for some commodities.
For example, loadings of iron and steel, primary or semi-finished, on a downward trend since May 2025, fell 25.5% (-89 000 tonnes) in February compared with the same month in 2025, while loadings of iron ores and concentrates posted a year-over-year decrease of 1.7% (-73 000 tonnes).
Intermodal traffic hits record levels
In February 2026, intermodal shipments—mainly containers—originating in Canada rose 15.0% year over year to 3.0 million tonnes, the highest volume ever recorded for the month of February.
American freight up
In February 2026, freight loadings from connections with American railways increased for the first time after 12 straight months of year-over-year decreases. Tonnage was up 16.1% from February 2025 to reach 3.2 million tonnes but remained below the previous five-year average of 3.4 million tonnes for the month of February.
Focus on Canada and the United States
Over 2023 and 2024, freight loadings from US rail connections into Canada represented an average of 12.0% of total rail tonnage each month. This share declined throughout 2025, averaging 10.4% during the year, then approached 11.0% in January and February 2026.
Statistics Canada continues to monitor potential impacts of tariffs on railway carloading statistics.
For more data and insights on areas touched by the socio-economic relationship between Canada and the United States, see the Focus on Canada and the United States web page.
Note to readers
The Monthly Railway Carloadings Survey collects data on the number of rail cars, tonnage, units and 20-feet equivalent units from railway transporters operating in Canada that provide for-hire freight services.
Cargo loadings from Armstrong, Ontario, to the Atlantic Coast are classified to the eastern division (Eastern Canada), while loadings from Thunder Bay, Ontario, to the Pacific Coast are classified to the western division (Western Canada).
Survey data are revised on a monthly basis to reflect new information.
The data in this release are not seasonally adjusted.
The Transportation Data and Information Hub, featuring data from Statistics Canada, Transport Canada and partners, provides Canadians with online access to comprehensive statistics and indicators for the country's transportation sector.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
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