SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 21, 2011 (RISI) -North American pulp and paper rail freight in the latest week ending Oct. 15 was down 6.7% from a year ago to 8,864 carloads, the Assn of American Railroads reported. Volume through 41 weeks of 2011 at 393,928 was 3.8% higher than the same period of 2010.

US pulp and paper traffic in the week was down 5.2%, Canada dropped 9.2% and Mexico was 15.4% higher.

North American lumber and wood products freight for the week surged 19.4% to 5,171 carloads and year-to-date was 9.3% higher to 216,604 carloads, AAR showed.

Primary forest products rail volume rose 9.1% in the week and was down 4.1% year-to-date.

Total North American rail freight was up 0.5% in the week and 2.1% higher year-to-date.