U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes are mixed, for week ending November 4, reports AAR
United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending November 4, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Rail carloads, at 224,415, fell 5.2% annually, trailing the weeks ending October 28 and October 21, at 227,575, and 234,893, respectively.
AAR reported that three of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: motor vehicles and parts, up 357 carloads, to 14,841; farm products excl. grain, and food, up 274 carloads, to 17,101; and petroleum and petroleum products, up 267 carloads, to 9,527. Commodity posting annual declines included: grain, down 3,655 carloads, to 21,395; coal, down 3,017 carloads, to 65,298; and nonmetallic minerals, down 2,562 carloads, to 31,218.
Intermodal containers and trailers, at 260,342 units, rose 1.5% annually, trailing the weeks ending October 28 and October 21, at 271,814, and 271,092, respectively.
On a year-to-date basis through the first 44 weeks of 2023, AAR reported that U.S. rail carloads, at 9,920,836, are essentially flat, up 0.1% annually, and intermodal units, at 10,665,407, are off 7.0% compared to the same period a year ago.
