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U.S. railroads closed the traffic book on November and opened one on December with more weekly gains — so much so, seven commodity groups registered double-digit year-over-year increases, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). During the week ending Dec. 4, the roads originated 303,570 carloads, up 6.8 percent, and 235,835 intermodal loads, up 13.8 percent compared with volumes from the same 2009 period.

Overall, 13 of 19 carload commodity groups registered gains, led by a 64 percent jump in metallic ore volume, 25.3 percent rise in metals and metal product volume, 24.4 percent climb in crushed stone, sand and gravel volume, and 22.7 percent increase in waste and scrap materials volume.

Chemical traffic rose 14 percent — the sixth-highest weekly volume in the past 10 years, according to Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc.’s latest “Rail Flash” report.

“We attribute chemical volume stability and recent strength to improving industrial end-market demand and lean inventory levels,” Baird analysts said in the report. “For the year, chemical volumes have tracked in line with normal seasonal expectations, underscoring more stable industrial demand trends.”

For the week ending Dec. 4, Canadian railroads reported 76,491 carloads, up 22.2 percent, and 47,871 containers and trailers, up 21.4 percent year over year. Mexican railroads boosted weekly carload volume 10.2 percent to 13,874 units and increased intermodal volume 8.3 percent to 6,968 units.

Through 2010’s first 48 weeks, 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads originated 17.9 million carloads, up 9.3 percent, and 13.1 million containers and trailers, up 14.8 percent.

For more AAR traffic data for the week ending Dec. 4 and through 48 weeks, follow this link.