United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week of October 9, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Rail carloads—at 239,821—saw a 4% annual increase, trailing the week ending October 2—at 241,910—and topping the week ending October 25—at 239,069.
AAR said that six of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: coal, up 5,736 carloads, to 67,680; metallic ores and metals, up 4,896 carloads, to 22,369; and nonmetallic minerals, up 2,606 carloads, to 33,087. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2020 included grain, down 3,483 carloads, to 24,037; motor vehicles and parts, down 3,047 carloads, to 13,058; and petroleum and petroleum products, down 837 carloads, to 9,395.
Intermodal containers and trailers—at 266,821—were down 7.8% annually, trailing the weeks ending October 2 and September 25, at 279,339 and 272,644, respectively.
Through the first 40 weeks of 2021, AAR said that U.S. rail carloads—at 9,249,460—are up 7.8% annually, and intermodal units—at 11,078,929—are up 9.4%.