CN seeks to grow steel business

CN seeks to grow steel business    Saying it wants to expand in the steel business, Canadian National Railway said Thursday it has developed new supply chain efficiencies to help it better meet short-term car order requirements of major steel producers in Canada and help them to compete more effectively.
   CN said it established strategic car staging locations near producer facilities in Sorel-Tracy, Que., northeast of Montreal, and in Paris, Ont., west of Hamilton, that would allow it to respond quickly to producers’ spot sales requirements.
   CN said it is also acquiring 200 standard gondolas and 200 open coil gondolas to expand and improve the quality of its freight car fleet serving the North American steel industry. The new gondolas and coil cars follow CN’s acquisition of almost 700 new iron ore cars this year and last for hauling pelletized iron ore in the Upper Midwest.