# Grain by rail fails to keep up - Manitoba Co-operator

> Mark Hemmes, Canada's grain monitor, says rail movement from country elevators to port terminals is the main bottleneck in western Canada's grain system. Grain companies market based on expected rail capacity rather than global demand. Western Grain Elevator Association executive director Wade Sobkowich says more rail capacity would increase competition for farmers' grain during peak export periods.

- Date: 2019-02-21 · published 2019-02-21T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region Canada · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/60606-grain-by-rail-fails-to-keep-up-manitoba-co-operator
- Commodities: [Wheat (SRW)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WHEAT.md), [Canola Meal](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CANMEAL.md)

## Why it matters

Rail constraints limit how much Canadian grain can reach export positions during peak international price windows, which can keep Canadian export basis and supply timing tight for buyers.

## Read by commodity

- WHEAT: neutral
- CANMEAL: neutral

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WHEAT | 2016-12-21 | [G3 to proceed with port grain terminal at Vancouver - Manitoba Co-operator](https://feedsoft.ai/events/73438-g3-to-proceed-with-port-grain-terminal-at-vancouver-manitoba-co-operator.md) | -0.1% | +3.1% |
| WHEAT | 2019-12-13 | [CN reports grain movement back at pre-strike pace - Manitoba Co-operator](https://feedsoft.ai/events/55603-cn-reports-grain-movement-back-at-pre-strike-pace-manitoba-co-operator.md) | +2.1% | +4.6% |
| WHEAT | 2016-12-13 | [Costs to ship grain by rail volatile \| World-grain.com \| December 13, 2016 14:49 \| World Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/73368-costs-to-ship-grain-by-rail-volatile-world-grain-com-december-13-2016-14-49.md) | -1.2% | +1.2% |
| WHEAT | 2017-07-12 | [Reuters: US trader Bunge to focus Russian grain operations on Azov Sea - Jul. 12, 2017 \| KyivPost](https://feedsoft.ai/events/69817-reuters-us-trader-bunge-to-focus-russian-grain-operations-on-azov-sea-jul-12.md) | -2.2% | -2.1% |
| WHEAT | 2026-01-12 | [Rail grain transportation in Ukraine decreased by 27% in 2025](https://feedsoft.ai/events/21071-rail-grain-transportation-in-ukraine-decreased-by-27-in-2025.md) | +0.2% | +2.0% |

## Sources

- manitobacooperator.ca: https://www.manitobacooperator.ca/news-opinion/news/rail-fails-to-keep-up/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.