U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes, for week of April 20, are mixed, reports AAR

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending April 20, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Rail carloads, at 216,945, fell 6.7% annually, topping the weeks ending April 13 and April 6, at 208,381, and 209,142, respectively.

AAR said that seven of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: motor vehicles and parts, up 2,236 carloads, to 16,877; petroleum and petroleum products, up 2,119 carloads, to 10,754; and forest products, up 686 carloads, to 8,427. Commodity groups posting annual declines included: coal, down 20,796 carloads, to 47,472; nonmetallic minerals, down 854 carloads, to 31,781; and metallic ores and metals, down 704 carloads, to 21,100.

Intermodal containers and trailers, at 257,599 units, rose 8.2% annually, trailing the week ending April 13, at 258,082, and topping the week ending April 6, at 241,000.

Through the first 16 weeks of 2024, AAR reported that U.S. rail carloads, at 3,408,295, are off 4.6% annually, and intermodal units, at 4,025,328, are up 9.1% annually.