U.S. rail and intermodal volumes are mixed, for week ending September 9, reports AAR

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending September 9, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Rail carloads, at 218,101, eked out a 0.6% annual gain, trailing the weeks ending September 2 and August 26, at 231,113, and 226,679, respectively.

AAR said that six of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: motor vehicles and parts, up 1,585 carloads, to 14,913; petroleum and petroleum products, up 1,416 carloads, to 9,734; and coal, up 866 carloads, to 68,367. Commodity groups posting annual declines included: grain, down 2,427 carloads, to 14,626; nonmetallic minerals, down 679 carloads, to 30,163; and forest products, down 514 carloads, to 7,840.

Intermodal containers and trailers, at 229,244 units, fell 3.8% annually, trailing the weeks ending September 2 and August 26, at 245,738, and 245,846, respectively.

Through the first 36 weeks of 2023, AAR noted that U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 8,071,215 carloads, up 0.1% annually; and 8,549,682 intermodal units, down 9.0% annually. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 36 weeks of 2023 was 16,620,897 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.8% annually.