United States rail carload and intermodal volumes were again mixed, for the week ending November 14, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Rail carloads—at 232,146—were off 3.1% annually, topping the weeks ending November 7 and October 31, at 228,282 and 227,347, respectively.
AAR reported that six of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2019, including grain, up 6,783 carloads, to 29,123; farm products excluding grain, and food, up 1,046 carloads, to 16,384; and metallic ores and metals, up 587 carloads, to 19,581. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2019 included coal, down 12,148 carloads, to 60,414; petroleum and petroleum products, down 3,211 carloads, to 10,744; and nonmetallic minerals, down 1,125 carloads, to 29,067.
Intermodal trailers and containers—at 295,316 units—posted a 12.9% annual gain, topping the weeks ending November 7 and October 31, at 293,746 and 295,110, respectively.
Through the first 46 weeks of 2020, U.S. rail carloads—at 9,941,003—are down 14.1% annually, and intermodal units—at 11,793,296—are down 3.7% for the same period.