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A 14.3 percent boost in international container traffic helped increase first-quarter intermodal volume 6.7 percent compared with first-quarter 2004, according to the Intermodal Association of North America’s (IANA) quarterly “Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics” report.

North American intermodal volume now has risen in 12 consecutive quarters — an IANA record. All nine regions tracked by the association posted gains, with seven registering double-digit increases, the report states.

Although international container moves were strong, totaling 1,837,566 units, domestic containers totaling 723,983 units fell 3 percent and domestic trailers totaling 610,107 units dropped 1.1 percent compared with first-quarter 2004.

“Domestic results were down amid reports of slowing factory output and improved truckload capacity,” IANA officials said in a prepared statement. “This was domestic [traffic’s] first negative quarter since late 2003 and the largest decline since the 2001 recession.”