AAR reports mixed U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes, for week ending July 10

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending July 10, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Rail carloads—at 210,297—increased 4.3% annually, trailing the weeks ending July 3 and June 26, at 236,486 and 237,117, respectively.

AAR reported that four of the ten carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: metallic ores and metals, up 8,599 carloads, to 22,486; coal, up 6,575 carloads, to 58,469; and chemicals, up 923 carloads, to 31,220. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2020 included motor vehicles and parts, down 2,531 carloads, to 10,316; grain, down 2,120 carloads, to 17,136; and miscellaneous carloads, down 1,403 carloads, to 7,255.

Intermodal containers and trailers—at 241,528—slipped 2.4% annually, trailing the weeks ending July 3 and June 26, at 276,073 and 279,050, respectively.

Through the first 27 weeks of 2021, U.S. rail carloads—at 6,212,822—are up 9.3% compared to the same period a year ago, and intermodal units—at 7,573,595—are up 16.8%.