United States rail carload and intermodal volumes saw annual declines for the week ending January 25, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Rail carloads—at 232,217—were down 6.7% annually, trailing the week ending January 18 at 237,394 the week ending January 11, at 239,119.
AAR reported that six of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks posted annual gains, including: metallic ores and metals, up 1,064 carloads, to 20,918; grain, up 288 carloads, to 21,723; and miscellaneous carloads, up 234 carloads, to 8,474. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2019 included coal, down 14,366 carloads, to 68,295; nonmetallic minerals, down 2,260 carloads, to 27,906; and motor vehicles and parts, down 1,245 carloads, to 14,482.
Intermodal containers and trailers—at 252,965 units—dropped 7.4% annually, trailing the weeks ending January 18 and January 11, at 262,338 and 262,505, respectively.
Through the first four weeks of 2020, U.S. rail carloads—at 924,394—are down 7.2% annually, and intermodal units—at 976258—are down 7.9%.