United States rail carload and intermodal volumes saw gains, for the week ending July 17, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Rail carloads—at 235,303—saw a 9.7% annual increase, topping the weeks ending July 10 and July 3, at 236,486 and 237,117, respectively.
AAR said that five of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: coal, up 13,057 carloads, to 69,186; metallic ores and metals, up 7,207 carloads, to 22,975; and chemicals, up 2,785 carloads, to 32,784. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2020 included motor vehicles and parts, down 1,750 carloads, to 12,049; grain, down 1,384 carloads, to 20,964; and farm products excl. grain, and food, down 175 carloads, to 15,593.
Intermodal containers and trailers—at 277,952—rose 4.1% annually, topping the weeks ending July 10 and July 3, at 241,528 and 276,073, respectively.
Through the first 28 weeks of 2021, AAR reported that U.S. carloads—at 6,448,125 carloads—are up 9.3% annually. And intermodal units—at 7,851,547—are up 16.3% annually.