CN Shatters Grain Movement Records Amid Canada's Bumper Crop

MONTREAL, QC – January 09, 2026 – Canadian National Railway (CN) capped off a historic year by announcing record-breaking grain movement for both December and the full 2025 calendar year, demonstrating the railway's immense capacity to support Canada's booming agricultural sector. The performance highlights a powerful synergy between a record-setting Canadian harvest and the logistical prowess required to move it to international markets.

In a statement released today, the company confirmed it moved over 2.82 million metric tonnes (MMT) of grain from Western Canada in December, establishing a new high for the month. This achievement, which surpassed the previous December record from 2020 by over 80,000 metric tonnes, also marked the railway's fourth consecutive record-breaking month for grain transport.

This strong finish propelled the company to a new annual milestone. For the full 2025 calendar year, CN transported more than 31.3 MMT of grain from Western Canada, eclipsing the prior record of 30.9 MMT set in 2020. Across its entire Canadian network, the railway shipped over 32.7 MMT of grain, exceeding the all-time record of 32.25 MMT established just one year prior in 2024.

"Canadian farmers produced record grain crops. Through consistent execution and close collaboration across the grain supply chain, CN railroaders supported the movement of these volumes to market," said Janet Drysdale, Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer at CN. "These results contributed to another record month and another consecutive record year in 2025 for grain movement across Canada."

A Golden Harvest Meets the Rails

CN's transportation records do not exist in a vacuum; they are a direct reflection of a monumental year for Canadian agriculture. According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), the 2025-2026 crop year yielded the largest crop on record. AAFC's December 2025 outlook estimated total production of principal field crops at 107.0 MMT, a staggering 10.4% increase from 2024 and over 16% above the five-year average.

The heart of this agricultural boom was in Western Canada, where production was projected to rise by 16% year-over-year to 85.3 MMT. This surge in output created an unprecedented demand for efficient and reliable transportation to move grain from prairie elevators to coastal ports for export. CN's ability to not only meet but exceed previous transportation records indicates that its network capacity and operational planning were prepared for the surge. This alignment between agricultural output and logistical capability is critical for Canada's economy, reinforcing its position as a reliable global supplier of food and strengthening the national GDP through robust export activity. The railway's performance underscores how infrastructure investment directly enables economic growth in other vital sectors.

The View from the Supply Chain

For the farmers and grain exporters who depend on the rail network, sheer volume is only part of the equation—timeliness is paramount. Efficient rail service is the critical link that determines profitability, prevents spoilage, and allows producers to capitalize on fleeting international market opportunities. While the 2025 record volumes suggest a successful year for getting products to port, the relationship between carriers and shippers remains complex.

In the preceding 2024-2025 crop year, for example, industry stakeholders voiced significant concerns. One group representing companies that handle over 90% of Canada's bulk grain shipments described it as the worst year for weekly rail car order fulfillment in a decade. An executive director for the association emphasized that while overall capacity is important, it must be matched by consistent, timely movement, noting that previous delays, though eventually rectified, occurred outside of peak demand periods.

For their part, rail carriers have pointed to the need for better communication and more accurate forecasting from grain customers to help prevent service gaps and optimize network fluidity. The record-setting performance throughout the latter half of 2025 suggests that either collaboration has improved, or the sheer scale of investment and operational focus has successfully aligned with the demands of a historic harvest, ensuring Canada's agricultural bounty made its journey from prairie to plate without significant disruption.

Battling Winter with Proactive Strategy

Achieving a record in December is particularly noteworthy as it signals the onset of winter, traditionally the most challenging season for North American railways. CN's performance suggests its 2025-2026 Winter Plan is already proving effective. This proactive strategy involves significant capital investment, technological upgrades, and refined operational procedures to maintain safety and efficiency in the face of extreme cold, heavy snowfall, and ice.

In 2025 alone, CN invested over $3 billion to expand capacity and improve network fluidity, with half of those funds dedicated to Western Canada. Key projects included new double-track segments to improve access to Pacific ports and upgrades to critical yards and terminals. The railway has also been modernizing its fleet, converting 170 locomotives from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) traction since 2023. AC locomotives offer superior pulling power and reliability in extreme cold, and an additional 50 have been deployed to Western corridors for the current winter season.

Technology is another cornerstone of the winter plan. A network of 2,800 wayside detectors, seven advanced inspection portals, and ten autonomous track inspection railcars provides real-time data on track and equipment health, enabling predictive maintenance that prevents failures before they occur. Operationally, the company employs a tiered system for train length reductions based on temperature to ensure safety and integrates daily weather forecasts directly into its rail traffic control centers to strategically deploy snow-clearing equipment and emergency generators.

A Competitive Push in a Critical Sector

CN is not alone in its efforts to serve Canada's grain industry. The competitive landscape, dominated by CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), is characterized by massive investments and a shared goal of enhancing Canada's export capabilities. CPKC also reported a strong performance in the 2024-2025 crop year, moving over 27 MMT of Canadian grain and grain products, its best result since the 2020-2021 season.

For the current 2025-2026 crop year, CPKC has announced plans to supply capacity for up to 34 MMT of grain, highlighting its own readiness for the bumper crop. Both railways face common headwinds, including the constant threat of severe weather impacting port operations in Vancouver, the need for seamless coordination across the entire supply chain, and navigating new federal labor regulations that could impact staffing requirements.

The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) maintains strict oversight of the sector, ensuring fair practices. For the 2024-2025 crop year, the CTA determined that CN's revenue from grain was below its maximum entitlement, while CPKC's was slightly above, requiring a payment to a grain research foundation. This regulatory environment, combined with intense competition, drives both railways to continuously innovate and invest. Ultimately, this dynamic benefits Canadian farmers and the broader economy, as both rail giants push to expand the nation's capacity to deliver its agricultural wealth to the world.