United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending December 28, saw gains, according to data recently issued by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Volumes for the week were likely impacted by the timing of the Christmas holiday.
U.S. rail carloads, at 184,028, increased 1.1% annually, falling short of the weeks ending December 21 and December 14, at 230,857, and 228,400, respectively.
AAR said that six of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: miscellaneous carloads, up 2,130 carloads, to 7,448; grain, up 1,727 carloads, to 19,478; and nonmetallic minerals, up 1,102 carloads, to 19,822. Commodity groups posting annual declines included: metallic ores and metals, down 1,732 carloads, to 16,265; coal, down 1,265 carloads, to 50,787; and forest products, down 485 carloads, to 7,214.
Intermodal containers and trailers, at 205,672 units, rose 9.0% annually, trailing the weeks ending December 21 and December 14, at 293,055, and 297,766, respectively.
For calendar year 2024, U.S. rail carloads, at 11,336,412, were down 2.9% annually, and intermodal units, at 13,842,174, are up 9.3% annually.
