Containers

A bump in imports to the U.S. could be on the horizon, following a strong back-to-school season that indicate cargo volumes could reach 2 million TEUs during September and October.

Rail carloads, at 232,723, eked out a 0.2% annual gain. Intermodal containers and trailers, at 257,067 units, were up 3.3% annually.

Total August volume, at 1,463,123 units, decreased 7.5% annually, faring better than the 9.8% annual decrease seen in July.

Rail carloads, at 218,101, eked out a 0.6% annual gain, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 229,244 units, fell 3.8% annually.

Rail carloads, at 1,133,375, were down 2.0% annually, or 23,323 carloads, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 1,239,290 units, fell 6.3%, or 83,717 units, annually.

Rail carloads, at 226,679, were off 3.9% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 245,846 units, saw a 7.7% annual decline.

Rail carloads, at 228,972, fell 0.6% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 249,881 units, fell 4.6% annually.

Total July volume, at 1,340,158 units, were off 9.8% annually, faring worse than June and May decreases, at -7.1% and -8.8%, respectively. Domestic containers, at 649,218, were down 1.9%. Trailers, at 56,422, saw a 19.9% annual decline. And all domestic equipment, which is comprised of trailers and domestic containers, totaled 705,640, for a 3.6% annual decrease. ISO, or international, containers, dropped 15.7%, to 634,518.

Rail carloads, 224,412, fell 3% annually, and Intermodal containers and trailers, at 248,086 units, were off 5.3%.

From June to July, Descartes reported that U.S.-bound container import volumes saw a 5.1% increase, to 2,187,810 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), which it said is consistent with import gains seen in non-pandemic years, for Peak Season.

Total second quarter volume, at 4,148,328 units, was down 10.4% annually, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of annual declines, and also the largest quarterly decline over that span. While this marked another decline, IANA pointed out that it was topped the first quarter by 5.3%, while coming in below each quarter in 2022.

Rail carloads, at 222,454, were off 1.3% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 252,282 units, were down 4.8%.

Total June volume, at 1,429,179 units, saw a 7.1% annual decrease, faring better than May’s 8.8% annual decrease, as well as a 15.4% April decrease.

Rail carloads, at 197,086, saw a 2.3% annual decline, andintermodal containers and trailers—at 210,757 units—were down 7.6% annually.

Rail carloads, at 903,397, fell 0.2%, or 1,931 carloads—compared to June 2022. Intermodal containers and trailers, at 988,766 units,were down 3.6%, or 76,237 units, for the same period.