U.S. rail carload and intermodal units are up for week ending April 10, reports AAR

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending April 10, saw annual gains, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

AAR officials noted that annual comparisons for this week are inflated, due to “the widespread economy-wide shutdowns—and subsequent large reduction in rail volumes—a year ago at this time.

Rail carloads—at 233,300—headed up 17.4% annually, topping the weeks ending April 3 and March 27, at 229,814 and 232,561, respectively.

AAR noted that nine of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks posted annual gains, including: motor vehicles and parts, up 9,854 carloads, to 12,044; coal, up 9,543 carloads, to 62,136; and chemicals, up 4,984 carloads, to 33,988. The only commodity group posting an annual decline was nonmetallic minerals, down 271 carloads, to 31,319.

Intermodal containers and trailers—at 280,424 units—were up 32.4% annually, trailing the weeks ending April 3 and March 27, at 285,478 and 289,170, respectively.

Through the first 14 weeks of 2021, AAR reported that U.S. rail carloads—at 3,144,397—are off 1.3% annually, and intermodal units—at 3,899,970—are up 14.3%.