U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes are up, for the week ending March 20, reports AAR

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending March 20 each saw annual gains, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

AAR officials noted that annual comparisons for this week are inflated, due to “the widespread economy-wide shutdowns—and subsequent large reduction in rail volumes—a year ago at this time.

Rail carloads—at 230,605—rose 2.9% annually, which was just below the 230,684 recorded for the week ending March 13 and also below the week ending March 6, at 232,494.

AAR reported that five of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: grain, up 6,332 carloads, to 27,332; coal, up 3,670 carloads, to 59,816; and metallic ores and metals, up 1,977 carloads, to 20,567. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2020 included chemicals, down 2,960 carloads, to 31,540; nonmetallic minerals, down 1,497 carloads, to 29,177; and motor vehicles and parts, down 952 carloads, to 14,927.

Intermodal containers and trailers—at 282,270—saw a 19.8% annual gain, trailing the week ending March 13, at 290,052, and also below the week ending March 6, at 282,641.

Through the first 11 weeks of 2021, AAR said that U.S. rail carloads—at 2,448,722—are off 4.3% annually, and intermodal units—at 3,044,628—are up 10.7%.