U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes are mixed, for week ending May 27, reports AAR

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending May 27, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Rail carloads—at 235,307—rose 3.5% annually, topping the weeks ending May 20 and May 13, at 225,093, and 225,571, respectively.

AAR reported that six of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: metallic ores and metals, up 4,429 carloads, to 25,026; nonmetallic minerals, up 3,254 carloads, to 35,151; and motor vehicles and parts, up 2,385 carloads, to 16,047. Commodity groups posting annual declines: included miscellaneous carloads, down 1,177 carloads, to 9,795; grain, down 769 carloads, to 19,798; and coal, down 717 carloads, to 63,220.

Intermodal containers and trailers—at 245,691 units—fell 11.6% annually, while topping the weeks ending May 20 and May 13, at 245,601, and 240,810, respectively.

Through the first 21 weeks of 2023, U.S. rail carloads are up 0.7% annually, at 4,720,543, and intermodal units fell 10.8%, to 4,904,383.  

North American rail volume for the week ending May 27, 2023, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 337,575 carloads, up 1.7% compared with the same week last year, and 331,924 intermodal units, down 9.3% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 669,499 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.1%. North American rail volume for the first 21 weeks of 2023 was 13,563,680 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.1% compared with 2022.