CPKC Sets New February Grain Shipping Record
Published: March 16, 2026
By: Adam Burns
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) announced on March 3 that it established a new company record for grain transportation during the month of February, continuing a strong start to 2026 for the transnational railroad’s agricultural business. The milestone highlights the railroad’s key role in moving Canadian grain to global markets and underscores the ongoing strength of Western Canada’s grain export supply chain.
According to the company, CPKC moved 2.232 million metric tonnes (MMT) of Canadian grain and grain products in February 2026, surpassing the previous February record set in 2021. The railroad also handled 23,088 carloads of grain during the month, another new February high for the carrier.
The February performance follows a similarly strong showing in January, when CPKC set a new monthly record by hauling 2.395 MMT of Canadian grain and 24,688 carloads, surpassing the previous January record from 2023.
Strong Start To The 2026 Crop Year
Company officials said the back-to-back monthly records demonstrate both strong demand for Canadian grain exports and the effectiveness of investments made throughout the grain supply chain.
Elizabeth Hucker, CPKC’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Bulk commodities, credited cooperation between the railroad, grain shippers, and export terminals for the results.
She noted that the performance reflects the efforts of railroad employees working closely with supply-chain partners to move what is expected to be a large grain crop across Western Canada. Continued investment in rail infrastructure and expanded grain-handling facilities has also helped boost capacity across the system.
Through the first 30 weeks of the 2025–2026 crop year, CPKC reported moving more than 17.1 MMT of Canadian grain and grain products, the highest level since the record-setting 2020–2021 crop year.
Network-Wide Grain Movement Also Sets Record
Beyond the Canadian figures alone, the company also recorded a broader network milestone in February. When shipments from both Canada and the United States are combined, the railroad transported approximately 4.501 MMT of grain and grain products in February, totaling 46,896 carloads across the CPKC network.
Those figures also represent a new February record, surpassing the previous system-wide mark set in 2024.
The railroad reported that several individual weeks during the winter exceeded the capacity targets outlined in its annual grain service plan, demonstrating strong supply-chain performance during what is typically a challenging period for rail operations due to weather conditions.
Importance Of Supply Chain Coordination
CPKC emphasized that maintaining such high volumes requires coordination across the entire grain export supply chain.
Grain elevators, loading facilities, port terminals, and vessel operators must all operate at full capacity to keep rail shipments moving efficiently. The company noted that effective crop forecasting and winter operating plans are critical in ensuring rail capacity is available when demand peaks.
A Transnational Grain Corridor
Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) was formed in 2023 through the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern, creating the first single-line rail network linking Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The system spans roughly 20,000 route miles and connects key agricultural regions with major export gateways on the Pacific Coast, Atlantic Canada, the U.S. Gulf Coast, and the Mexican port of Lázaro Cárdenas.
This continental network has become increasingly important for grain producers and exporters seeking efficient access to global markets. As export demand continues to rise, railroads such as CPKC play a critical role in ensuring that agricultural products can move from prairie grain elevators to ocean ports quickly and reliably.
With two consecutive monthly grain records already set in 2026, CPKC officials say the railroad is well positioned to continue handling strong agricultural volumes throughout the remainder of the crop year.
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