United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending March 13, saw annual gains, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Rail carloads—at 230,684—saw a 2.1% annual gain, trailing the week ending March 6, at 232,494, and topping the week ending February 27, at 215,181.
AAR reported that six of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: coal, up 8,744 carloads, to 64,102; grain, up 3,958 carloads, to 23,939; and farm products excluding grain, and food, up 910 carloads, to 16,766. Commodity groups with annual declines included motor vehicles and parts, down 4,258 carloads, to 14,829; chemicals, down 3,034 carloads, to 29,971; and petroleum and petroleum products, down 1,900 carloads, to 11,379.
Intermodal containers and trailers—at 290,052—climbed 22.4% annually, trailing the weeks ending March 6 and February 27, at 282,641 and 271,248, respectively.
Through the first 10 weeks of 2021, AAR said that U.S. rail carloads—at 2,218,117—are off 4.9% annually, and intermodal units—at 2,761,908—are up 9.9%.