By  James McLaren

OAKLAND, CA, dec.. 25, 2015 (RISI) - North American forest products railroad freight was down 7.8% in the latest week ending Dec. 19, 2015, at to 17,786 carloads, the Assn of American Railroads reported. Volume through 50 weeks of 2015 at 931.260 carloads was 0.5% below 2014.
US forest products freight was down 11.2% in the week and 3.2% lower year-to-date. Canada was down 2.4% in the week and 3.9% higher year-to-date. Mexico was down 41.9% and 24.9% respectively.
Total North American rail carloads were down 13.6% in the week and down 5.4% through 50 weeks, AAR reported.
BNSF Railway reported its pulp and paper freight was up 12.2% in the week ending Dec. 19 and through 50 weeks was 1.5% higher to 68,712 carloads. Lumber and wood freight in the week was down 5.6% and year-to-date was up 4.5% to 79,115 carloads. BNSF reported its total carloads in the week were down 13.5% and through 50 weeks was up 0.04% from 2014.