U.S. rail carload and intermodal units are down for the week ending May 23, reports AAR

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes again saw annual declines, for the week ending May 23, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Rail carloads—at 190,639—saw a 27.5% annual decline, topping the 184,415 recorded the week ending May 16 and the 184,144 recorded the week ending May 9.

AAR reported that none of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2019. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2019 included: coal, down 32,660 carloads, to 46,863; motor vehicles and parts, down 12,171 carloads, to 4,874; and metallic ores and metals, down 8,733 carloads, to 14,805.

Intermodal containers and trailers—at 238,076—saw an 11.2% annual decline, which was ahead of the week ending May 16, at 231,700 units, and the week ending May 9, at 227,405 units.

“Of the 20 carload categories we track, 15 had modestly higher loadings last week than the week before, led by motor vehicles and grain,” said AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray in a statement. “Meanwhile, intermodal originations were higher last week than in any of the previous 11 weeks. While we can’t yet say whether rail traffic and, by extension, the economy, have turned a corner, these are all encouraging signs,” “As areas across the country begin to reopen over the next several weeks, perhaps we can start looking for light at the end of what has become a rather long tunnel. Whatever the outcome, railroads will do their part to get us out of the tunnel safely and reliably.”

Through the first 21 weeks of 2020, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 4,533,784 carloads, down 14.3% from the same point last year; and 4,970,889 intermodal units, down 11.3% from last year.