AAR reports annual U.S. rail carload and intermodal declines, for the week ending September 11

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 223,710—headed up 4.5% annually, trailing the week ending September 4, at 228,203, and the week ending August 28, at 234,661.

AAR reported that six of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: coal, up 9,749 carloads, to 69,927; metallic ores and metals, up 4,227 carloads, to 22,395; and nonmetallic minerals, up 3,731 carloads, to 30,476. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2020 included motor vehicles and parts, down 4,862 carloads, to 10,121; grain, down 4,830 carloads, to 16,718; and petroleum and petroleum products, down 558 carloads, to 9,797.

Intermodal containers and trailers—at 244,900—slipped 6% annually, trailing the week ending September 4, at 266,212, and the week ending August 28, at 269,756.

Through the first 36 weeks of 2021, U.S. rail carloads—at 8,293,870—are up 8.2% annually, and intermodal units—at 9,994,693—are up 11.5%, for the same period.