Canadian Railway strike likely to affect metal and steel trade with U.S.
2019-11-22 15:46:31 [Print]
Steel, copper, aluminum and zinc shipments between the U.S. and Canada are at risk from a strike at Canadian National Railway Co.
In the U.S., Union Pacific Corp., the largest freight rail provider in the West region, said this week that it would stop accepting shipments into or from Canadian National Railway's Canada locations until its operations return to normal.
Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals' zinc and copper shipments from its operations in Manitoba would be negatively impacted by a prolonged strike, according to a report. Hudbay Minerals didn't immediately comment.
The Union Pacific's notice to customers will likely hurt copper and steel shipments from the U.S., and aluminum deliveries from Quebec into the U.S. will likely be delayed, according to reports.
About 3,200 workers at Canadian National Railway went on strike Tuesday over issues including working conditions and medical benefits, the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference union said.
Teck Resources said in its 2018 annual report that its Cardinal River operations in Alberta are served by Canadian National Railway, which transports its products to ports on the west coast. "We have been monitoring the situation closely, assessing potential impacts and implementing mitigation strategies," Teck spokesman Chris Stannell said, without providing details.
Alcoa's spokesman Jim Beck said, "There's no current impact on shipments from the smelters we operate, but we're closely monitoring the situation." The largest U.S. aluminum producer runs smelters at Baie-Comeau, Becancour and Deschambault in Canada.
In the U.S., Union Pacific Corp., the largest freight rail provider in the West region, said this week that it would stop accepting shipments into or from Canadian National Railway's Canada locations until its operations return to normal.
Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals' zinc and copper shipments from its operations in Manitoba would be negatively impacted by a prolonged strike, according to a report. Hudbay Minerals didn't immediately comment.
The Union Pacific's notice to customers will likely hurt copper and steel shipments from the U.S., and aluminum deliveries from Quebec into the U.S. will likely be delayed, according to reports.
About 3,200 workers at Canadian National Railway went on strike Tuesday over issues including working conditions and medical benefits, the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference union said.
Teck Resources said in its 2018 annual report that its Cardinal River operations in Alberta are served by Canadian National Railway, which transports its products to ports on the west coast. "We have been monitoring the situation closely, assessing potential impacts and implementing mitigation strategies," Teck spokesman Chris Stannell said, without providing details.
Alcoa's spokesman Jim Beck said, "There's no current impact on shipments from the smelters we operate, but we're closely monitoring the situation." The largest U.S. aluminum producer runs smelters at Baie-Comeau, Becancour and Deschambault in Canada.
Copper Conc. TC 25%min CIF China
Unit:USD/mt
China copper concentrate producers' operating rate statistics by province by month
Unit: %
