CN Reports December Grain Movement
Rhea-AI Summary
CN (TSX: CNR, NYSE: CNI) reported record grain movement in December 2025 and for the full 2025 calendar year. In December CN moved over 2.82 million metric tonnes of grain from Western Canada, beating its prior December record (2020) by more than 80,000 metric tonnes. For 2025 CN set a new annual record in Western Canada with over 31.3 million metric tonnes
Positive
- December grain movement: over 2.82M metric tonnes
- Western Canada 2025: over 31.3M metric tonnes (new record)
- All-Canada 2025: more than 32.7M metric tonnes (new all-time record)
- December record exceeded 2020 by 80,000+ tonnes
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, CNI declined 0.52%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
Key rail peers NSC, CP, CSX, UNP and WAB all show positive price changes (from 1.38% to 2.85%), aligning with CNI’s 2.9% gain and indicating broad strength in rail-related Industrials.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 05 | Earnings date notice | Neutral | -1.0% | Announced Q4 and full-year 2025 results release and conference call details. |
| Dec 22 | Community initiatives | Neutral | +0.0% | Outlined 2025 community giving, volunteer hours, and corporate giving pillars. |
| Dec 19 | Regulatory response | Neutral | +0.0% | Responded to UP-NS merger filing, flagging competition and market concentration concerns. |
| Dec 08 | Operational performance | Positive | +0.1% | Reported record November grain movement and execution of 2025-2026 Winter Plan. |
| Dec 02 | Sustainability report | Positive | +0.5% | Published 2024 sustainability report with emission, safety, training, and ESG rankings data. |
Recent news — including grain volume records and sustainability initiatives — has generally seen modest positive or flat price reactions, with no major divergences.
Over the last months, CN highlighted several operational and ESG milestones. It reported record November grain movement, then today’s December and full-year 2025 grain records, underscoring strong bulk volume execution and its 2025-2026 Winter Plan. The company also published its 2024 sustainability report, showing emission and safety improvements, and announced timing for Q4 and full-year 2025 results. Together, these updates frame today’s record grain movement as a continuation of steady operational performance and network reliability.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement emphasizes CN’s operational strength, with December grain movement exceeding 2.82 million metric tonnes from Western Canada and new annual records of over 31.3 million and 32.7 million metric tonnes in Western Canada and all of Canada, respectively. It also reinforces continuity with CN’s 2025-2026 Winter Plan. Investors may track future volume updates, winter operating performance, and the upcoming Q4 and full-year 2025 results for additional context on sustainability of these records.
Key Terms
metric tonnes technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
MONTREAL, Jan. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) announced today that it set a new monthly record for grain movement in December, marking its fourth consecutive record month. CN moved over 2.82 million metric tonnes of grain from Western Canada last month, surpassing its previous December record set in 2020 by over 80,000 metric tonnes.
CN also set a record for grain moved within a single calendar year in 2025. In Western Canada, CN moved over 31.3 million metric tonnes, surpassing the previous record of 30.9 million metric tonnes set in 2020. Across all of Canada, CN shipped more than 32.7 million metric tonnes of grain, exceeding the prior all-time record of 32.25 million metric tonnes established in 2024.
“Canadian farmers produced record grain crops. Through consistent execution and close collaboration across the grain supply chain, CN railroaders supported the movement of these volumes to market. These results contributed to another record month and another consecutive record year in 2025 for grain movement across Canada.”
- Janet Drysdale, Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, CN
CN Winter Plan
CN continues to execute its winter operations plan across the network as the colder months have begun. For more information and details about how the Company has put proactive solutions in place please consult its 2025-2026 Winter Plan.
About CN
CN powers the economy by safely transporting more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year for its customers. With its nearly 20,000-mile rail network and related transportation services, CN connects Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. Midwest and the U.S. Gulf Coast, contributing to sustainable trade and the prosperity of the communities in which it operates since 1919.
Contacts:
| Media | Investment Community |
| Ashley Michnowski | Stacy Alderson |
| Senior Manager | Assistant Vice-President |
| Media Relations | Investor Relations |
| (438) 596-4329 media@cn.ca | (514) 399-0052 investor.relations@cn.ca |
FAQ
How much grain did CN (CNI) move in December 2025?
What annual grain records did CN (CNI) set for 2025?
How much did CN's December 2025 result exceed its previous December record (2020)?
Did CN (CNI) beat the all-Canada grain movement record in 2025?
What operational plan is CN using for winter 2025–2026?
