May U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes see strong gains, reports AAR

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the month of May, posted strong annual gains, according to data recently issued by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Rail carloads—at 964,356—headed up 30.4%, or 224,623 carloads, annually. And when excluding coal, carloads rose 147,395 carloads, or 26.6%, and when excluding coal and grain, carloads were up 131,319 carloads, or 28%.

AAR said that 18 of the 20 rail carload commodity groups it tracks, saw annual gains, including: coal, up 77,228 carloads or 41.7% motor vehicles & parts, up 34,021 carloads or 206.5%; and chemicals, up 23,368 carloads or 20.8%. Commodities posting annual declines included: farm products excluding grain, down 166 carloads or 4.9%; and primary forest products, down 67 carloads or 1.7%.

May intermodal containers and trailers—at 1,151,824—saw a 26.2%, or 238,927 units, decrease.

“U.S. rail volumes in May 2021 were encouraging. Total carloads were the most for any month since October 2019 on a weekly average basis,” said AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray. “In May, 18 of the 20 carload categories we track had carload gains over May 2020, while 12 of the 20 had gains over May 2019. Meanwhile, intermodal just had the best January to May period ever for U.S. railroads. Railroads hope to build on these gains in the months ahead as they help the economy return to strong, sustainable growth.”

AAR reported that total originated U.S. rail carloads per week—at 241,089—marked its highest level since October 2009 while rising 30.4% annually. Total U.S originated containers and trailers per week—at 287,956—were off slightly from April’s 293,488, which set an all-time record, while May still marked the seventh-best month on record and also the best-ever reading for May.

Through the first five months of 2021, U.S. rail carloads—at 4,827,293—are up 7.3% annually, or 329,416 carloads, and intermodal units—at 5,945,322—are up 19.2% for the same period.

For the week ending May 29, U.S. rail carloads, at 243,304, are up 35.3%, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 286,921, are up 33%.