Churchill to Mexico shipment

[wmoebis]

35200T of #2 wheat headed for Mexico just left Churchill. Much was likely sourced cleaned and blended at elevators in southern Sask and Man unloaded then reloaded on ship.
Anyone know what the cost dif would have been to rail straight from south prairies versus moving it to Church and trans loading.
Would have been a little under 400 cars delivered to unload site. I would imagine it has to be reloaded in Mexico to hot final destination.

[charliep]

Not sure the cost structure. A comment would be the US also has rail transportation challenges so would not likely work via rail car. Churchill movement can be cheaper than St. Lawrence.

Just talked to a buyer from the Frazer valley of BC and the sourcing challenges they faced this winter. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

[wmoebis]

Ya not disagreeing with logistics other than all cost are backed of to producer and we should have transparent costs and reasoning.

[Braveheart]

I think some sales are buyers option. What doesn't make sense to me is the track to Churchill is light and slow. In a time when the pressure is on railways and grain cos to hit targets they head for the slowest to get to port? Or, is it quicker from NE SK? Dunno.

Just know that if Merv Tweed (Cons) runs Omnitrax the way he represented his former constituency, the Port of Churchill will backslide fast.

[wmoebis]

No dif than When the CWB moved AD from TB to van to load a ship. Just wanted justification from someone in the know.

[farmaholic]

We need as many options available as possible. Some are better than others but use it or lose it....

[Oliver88]

Agree with farmaholic.

We need to keep Churchill viable because we will need it. As we all know CN, CP, longshoremen union, Ports of Tbay/Vancouver/Prince Rupert don't have the farmers best interest in mind.

CN has made exporting through Churchill more challenging by letting their track from Tisdale to Hudson Bay fall apart.

[seabass]

If they had more storage capacity companies could move a lot of grain in the winter. Eliminates some of the track problems. Very good place to bring big ships in but place could use major up grades due to neglect and under usage.

[dave4441]

Very likely just as cheap via Churchill or cheaper as they shipped it this way. Companies don't do things unless it is cheaper. By train about usd $150/mt to Mexico City. Maybe a little more $120 from Ksley to Laredo Texas plus Mexican rail frt.

Canadian rail doesn't want to ship to Mexico either because of fed rail shipping mandates. So they may have not got the car supply. These fed regulations are impacting markets and price back to grower.

[dave4441]

No, it would be at least $170/mt to Mexico City by rail. Very likely cheaper thru Churchill. Vessel frt likely only $40/mt. Wild guess.