Aug 22 Reuters Canada39;s freight rail transport could come to a grinding halt after the country39;s two biggest railroad operators announced an unprecedented, simultaneous work stoppage following deadlocked talks over labor contracts.

Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City said they had locked out their workers and shut their networks in the country early on Thursday after lastminute talks with the Teamsters union failed to avert a costly stoppage.

Canada, the world39;s secondlargest country by area, relies heavily on railways to transport grain, automobiles, potash, coal and other goods. The railways transport about C380 billion 277 billion worth of goods and commodities annually, and the impact of the rail stoppage is expected to be felt across North America.

Rating agency Moody39;s estimates the simultaneous stoppage could cost the Canadian economy C341 million per day.

Here are some sectors set to be damaged by the rail stoppage

FERTILIZERS

Fertilizers account for the thirdhighest volume among commodities shipped by Canadian railways, and 75 of all fertilizer produced and used in the country is moved by rail.

The railways move an average of 69,000 metric tons of fertilizer product per day, equivalent to four to five trains daily.

Fertilizer Canada, which represents producers such as CF Industries and Nutrien, has estimated C55 million to C63 million per day in lost sales revenue from disruptions of all rail services.

Top potash…