United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending September 11 were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Rail carloads—at 234,790—saw a 3.5% annual increase, topping the 223,710 reported for the week ending September 11 and the 228,203, for the week ending September 4.
AAR reported that seven of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: coal, up 7,232 carloads, to 68,820; metallic ores and metals, up 5,203 carloads, to 24,798; and nonmetallic minerals, up 2,054 carloads, to 32,676. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2020 were motor vehicles and parts, down 5,896 carloads, to 11,709; grain, down 2,609 carloads, to 19,432; and petroleum and petroleum products, down 388 carloads, to 10,494.
Intermodal containers and trailers—at 270,832 units—were off 8.3% annually, topping the weeks ending September 11 and September 4, at 244,900 and 266,212, respectively.
Through the first 37 weeks of 2021, U.S. rail carloads are up 8%, to 8,528,660, and intermodal units are up 10.9%, to 10,265,525.