U.S. rail volume tumbled 7.5% in Week 12

U.S. rail volumes fell 7.5% to 469,958 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending March 25 compared to the same period a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads data.

The railroads logged 236,526 carloads, down 0.2%, and 233,432 containers and trailers, down 13.9%.

Six of the 10 carload commodity groups that AAR tracks weekly posted increases compared with a year ago. They included petroleum and petroleum products, up 21.9%; metallic ores and metals, up 6.4%; and farm products excluding grain, and food, up 5.9%.

Commodity groups that posted decreases included grain, (11.8%); coal, (2.5%); and chemicals, (3.5%).

Also during the week, Canadian railroads logged 83,120 carloads, a 9.6% increase compared with a year ago, and 62,661 intermodal units, down 4.2%. Mexican railroads posted 22,785 carloads for the week, up 11%, and 13,254 intermodal units, down 9.2%.

For the first 12 weeks of 2023 compared with the same period in 2022:

• U.S. railroads reported 5,549,625 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.4%;

• Canadian railroads reported 1,673,092 carloads, containers and trailers, up 2.8%;

• Mexican railroads reported 442,540 carloads, containers and trailers, up 0.8%; and

• North American railroads combined reported 7,665,257 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.4%.