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U.S. railroads continued to build traffic through mid-November. During the week ending Nov. 19, they originated 301,919 carloads, up 1.1 percent, and 243,234 intermodal loads, up 3 percent compared with volumes from the same week last year, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
 
Eleven of 20 carload commodity groups posted gains, led by non-metallic minerals (30.6 percent), petroleum products (21.3 percent), and motor vehicles and equipment (16.3 percent).

However, volume contraction continued to persist for agricultural products, according to Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc.’s weekly “Rail Flash” report. Volume tumbled 5 percent year over year, reflecting “a weaker domestic harvest and softer export demand due to a healthier global harvest,” Baird analysts said.
 
Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported weekly carloads totaling 76,274, up 0.4 percent, and intermodal volume totaling 49,202 containers and trailers, up 1 percent. For the week ending Nov. 19, Mexican railroads boosted carloads 12.3 percent to 14,754 units and cranked up intermodal volume 41.8 percent to 9,501 units.
 
Through 2011’s first 46 weeks, 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads originated 17.6 million carloads, up 2.1 percent, and 13.2 million containers and trailers, up 5 percent year over year.

For more AAR traffic data for the week ending Nov. 19 and through 46 weeks, follow this link.