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U.S. carloads trickled down and intermodal volume inched up again last week, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). During the week ending Aug. 13, originated carloads declined 1.2 percent to 292,266 units and intermodal loads rose 0.8 percent to 235,598 units compared with volumes from the same week last year.
 
Only 11 of 20 carload commodity groups registered gains, led by metallic ores (up 25.2 percent), iron and steel scrap (up 22.4 percent) and petroleum products (up 15.8 percent). Farm products traffic, excluding grain, fell 25.1 percent, waste and nonferrous scrap loads tumbled 20.3 percent and non-metallic minerals carloads decreased 13 percent.

Industrial/chemical traffic growth outpaced other commodities, but the growth rate has moderated in recent weeks, according to Robert W. Baird & Co Inc.’s weekly “Rail Flash” report. Coal and agricultural products traffic remain a drag on carload volume growth, Baird analysts said in the report. Excluding coal and ag, U.S. carloads increased 4 percent year over year in week No. 32, they said.
 
Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported weekly carloads totaling 75,233 units, up 2.2 percent, and intermodal volume totaling 50,691 containers and trailers, down 0.3 percent. Mexican railroads increased weekly carload volume 2 percent to 14,388 units and boosted intermodal volume 42.6 percent to 9,937 units.
 
Through 2011’s first 32 weeks, 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads originated 12.1 million carloads, up 2.2 percent, and slightly less than 9 million containers and trailers, up 6.2 percent year over year.

For more AAR traffic data for the week ending Aug. 13 and through 32 weeks, follow this link.