U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes are mixed, for the week ending January 21, reports AAR

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending January 21, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

U.S. rail carloads—at 230,545—saw a 3.3% annual gain, topping the week ending January 7, at 212,962, and trailing the week ending January 14, at 244,171.

AAR reported that five of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: nonmetallic minerals, up 5,895 carloads, to 31,264; coal, up 2,454 carloads, to 68,675; and motor vehicles and parts, up 2,321 carloads, to 13,166. Commodity groups with annual declines included: chemicals, down 2,891 carloads, to 31,038; grain, down 1,262 carloads, to 22,015; and forest products, down 799 carloads, to 9,065.

Intermodal containers and trailers—at 236,940 units—fell 6.7% annually, topping the week ending January 7, at 203,257, and trailing the week ending January 14, at 241,829.

Through the first three weeks of 2023, AAR reported that U.S carloads—at 687,678—are up 3% annually, and intermodal units—at 682,296—are down 8.4% annually.

North American rail volume for the week ending January 21, 2023, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 336,113 carloads, up 6.8% compared with the same week last year, and 309,502 intermodal units, down 6.7% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 645,615 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.1%. North American rail volume for the first three weeks of 2023 was 1,893,180 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.5% compared with 2022.