Picketers with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) on strike at Gatineau, Que. on April 20, 2023. (Photo: Reuters/Blair Gable)

PSAC federal worker strike could hit at grain transport

Prolonged strike could cause grain shipment delays, lead to demurrage costs

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) strike is drawing fire from Canadian agricultural commodity groups — mostly concerned with how grain transportation could be disrupted. The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association issued a strongly worded press release on Tuesday after striking picketers targeted Vancouver’s Cascadia grain terminal, co-owned by Viterra and Richardson International. “A […] Read more

(File photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Canola exports turn tiny as Canada running out

MarketsFarm — There was a tremendous drop in canola exports from Canada during week 34 of the 2021-22 marketing year, according to the Canadian Grain Commission. The commission’s report issued Thursday showed a mere 800 tonnes of canola were shipped overseas. The week before, 128,300 tonnes were outbound. “We’re really getting close to running out,” […] Read more

File photo of the Prince Rupert Grain Terminal. (Dan_prat/iStock/Getty Images)

Grain shortage, cold snap cause delays at West Coast ports

'...the vessels continue to arrive'

MarketsFarm — Grain movement in Western Canada remains faced with significant difficulties, according to Mark Hemmes, president of Quorum Corp., which monitors rail traffic and vessel movements in Canada. February’s cold snap resulted in grain movement across the region falling below its three-year average. The most pressing issue has been a shortage of grain to […] Read more

A rail car from SGCC’s fleet. (Dave Bedard photo)

No big problems seen in grain transportation so far

CNS Canada — It’s so far, so good with grain shipments to the three major Canadian ports according, to a spokesperson with Quorum Corporation, which compiles weekly performance updates on Canada’s grain handling sector. The spokesperson said there not have been any big problems recently, only a few sporadic instances in rail shipments. There has […] Read more

(PortMetroVancouver.com)

Grain vessel lineup rising at Vancouver

CNS Canada — The lineup of grain vessels waiting for loading at Vancouver increased to 21 for Week 8 of the grain shipping season. Reports by Quorum Corp., which monitors Prairie grain handling, stated vessels at Vancouver were up 31 per cent from the previous week (17). The increase in ships raised sentiments that grain […] Read more


(File photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Canola exports slow down in latest weekly report

CNS Canada — Weekly Canadian canola exports were down during the week ended Sunday, hitting their lowest level since September 2017, according to the latest Canadian Grain Commission data. Canada exported only 129,000 tonnes of canola during the latest reporting period, which compares with the previous five-week average of 194,800 tonnes. Total canola exports during […] Read more

(PortMetroVancouver.com)

Adverse weather slows West Coast grain movement

Adverse weather at Canada’s West Coast is causing a backup of vessels waiting to load grain, according to the latest weekly Grain Monitoring Program performance update compiled by Quorum Corp. A total of 30 ships were waiting in Vancouver as of Sunday, which compares with the year-to-date average of 22, according to the report. A […] Read more



(PortMetroVancouver.com)

Large number of vessels waiting to load at West Coast

CNS Canada — A large backlog of ships is waiting to load grain at Canada’s West Coast due to a combination of poor weather, early arrivals and railroad logistical issues. The Port of Vancouver lineup included 26 vessels as of Tuesday, according to the latest weekly report from the federal Grain Monitoring Program administered by […] Read more

(CPR.ca)

Cereals North America: Communication key to improved grain transportation

Winnipeg | CNS Canada –– Canada’s grain transportation system is running relatively smoothly for the time being, but there is still plenty of room for improvement — and better communication between participants is seen as a way to alleviate future bottlenecks. The 2013-14 crop year, with its logistical challenges and, eventually, federal government intervention, are […] Read more