U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes are mixed in January, reports AAR

Continuing an ongoing theme from 2020, 2021 began in similar fashion, with United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the month of January, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).  

Rail carloads—at 930,303—were off 2.1%, or 19,799 carloads, annually. And 10 of the 20 commodity groups tracked by the AAR saw annual gains, including: grain, up 31,434 carloads or 40.0 percent; chemicals, up 5,717 carloads or 4.4 percent; and metallic ores, up 5,190 carloads or 28.7 percent, among others. Commodities with annual declines included: coal, down 35,356 carloads or 12.7 percent; crushed stone, sand & gravel, down 14,097 carloads or 18.9 percent; and petroleum & petroleum products, down 6,529 carloads or 12.1 percent.

On the intermodal side, United States containers and trailers—at 1,173,220—were up 12.1%, or 126,548 units, annually.

“We are encouraged by rail volumes in January. U.S. intermodal shipments and carloads of chemicals set new records; grain had its biggest-ever year-over-year increase; total carloads were the highest they’ve been in a year; and carloads excluding coal actually grew year-over-year for the second straight month,” said AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray in a statement. “To be sure, the economy remains under strain with a good deal of uncertainty, but we’re cautiously optimistic about the future. Railroads are well prepared to support a strong recovery whenever it occurs.”

For the week ending January 30, AAR reported that U.S. rail carloads—at 231,370—were up 2.1% annually, topping the week ending January 23, at 230,979, with intermodal units—at 289,323—up 7.6%, for the same period, trailing the week ending January 23, at 298,051.