U.S. rail traffic total dipped in Week 37

U.S. railroads hauled 505,622 carloads and intermodal units during the week ending Sept. 18, a 3.1% decrease compared with the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Total carloads for the week were 234,790 units, up 3.5%, while intermodal volume was 270,832 containers and trailers, down 8.3%.

Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2020. They included coal, up 7,232 carloads to 68,820; metallic ores and metals, up 5,203 carloads to 24,798; and nonmetallic minerals, up 2,054 carloads to 32,676.

Commodity groups that posted decreases were motor vehicles and parts, down 5,896 carloads to 11,709; grain, down 2,609 carloads to 19,432; and petroleum and petroleum products, down 388 carloads to 10,494.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads logged 77,935 carloads for the week, down 6.8%, and 74,845 intermodal units, up 0.8%. Mexican railroads posted 18,594 carloads for the week, up 10.5% compared with the same week last year, and 14,111 intermodal units, up 0.3%.

For the first 37 weeks of 2021 compared with the same period in 2020:
• U.S. railroads reported a combined 18,794,185 carloads and intermodal units, up 9.6%;
• Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 5,480,022 carloads, containers and trailers, up 5.6%; and
• Mexican railroads reported 1,357,635 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 6% from the same point last year.