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After reaching a 2010 high the previous week, U.S. carloads only increased moderately last week, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). During the week ending Aug. 7, U.S. railroads originated 284,507 carloads, up 3.5 percent compared with volume from the same week in 2009.

Sixteen of 19 carload commodity groups registered gains, including agricultural products traffic, which rose 9 percent. A recent improvement in grain futures likely attracted stored grain into the market, said Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. analysts in their weekly “Rail Flash” report. Ag products traffic likely will receive another boost from Russian wheat-supply shortages caused by a drought because U.S. railroads move a majority of export wheat, they said.

In the intermodal sector, U.S. roads continued to post strong weekly volumes. During the week ending Aug. 7, they originated 231,208 containers and trailers, up 18.6 percent year over year.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported weekly volume of 70,624 carloads, up 27.3 percent, and 49,384 intermodal loads, up 29.7 percent. Mexican railroads increased weekly carload volume 19.8 percent to 13,445 units and boosted intermodal volume 18.6 percent to 7,087 units.

Through 2010’s first 31 weeks, 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads originated 11.4 million carloads, up 10.1 percent, and 8.2 million containers and trailers, up 14.3 percent year over year.

For more AAR traffic data for the week ending Aug. 7 and through 31 weeks, follow this link.