AAR: U.S. railroads post 'mixed' traffic results for July

U.S. railroads logged 1,843,213 carloads, containers and trailers in July, a 3.3% decrease from July 2022 volumes, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Carloads totaled 875,660 last month, down 0.6%, and containers and trailers totaled 967,553, down 5.5%.

Nine of the 20 carload commodity categories tracked monthly by the AAR posted year-over-year increases in July. They included motor vehicles and parts, up 13.1%; crushed stone, sand & gravel, up 7.5%; and primary metal products, up 10.3%.

Commodities that posted decreases last month included grain, down 21%; coal, -2.2%; and pulp and paper products, -9.1%.

July’s "mixed" volume results reflect varying market conditions, said AAR Senior Vice President John Gray in a press release.

"The three non-July 4 weeks in July were the three highest volume intermodal weeks of the year, and carloads of chemicals rose in July for the first time in almost a year," Gray said. "At the same time, July was exceptionally weak for grain carloadings."

Typically, July rail volumes are affected by Independence Day closures, "so we are cautious to put too much stock" last month’s results, he said.

"[B]ut there are reasons for both both optimism and caution," Gray added.

Total U.S. carload traffic for the first seven months of 2023 compared with the same period a year ago was 6,719,395 units, up 0.4%, and 7,081,148 intermodal units, down 9.6%.