AAR reports annual U.S. rail carload and intermodal gains for the week ending June 19

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes saw annual gains, for the week ending June 19, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Rail carloads—at 232,144—increased 15.1% annually, trailing the weeks ending June 12 and June 5, at 241,628 and 261,647, respectively.

AAR said that Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: coal, up 15,512 carloads, to 67,819; metallic ores and metals, up 9,302 carloads, to 23,726; and chemicals, up 3,990 carloads, to 32,401. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2020 were grain, down 1,820 carloads, to 19,617; miscellaneous carloads, down 478 carloads, to 9,290; and motor vehicles and parts, down 303 carloads, to 12,534.

It observed that for some rail traffic categories, percentage changes for the current week compared with the same week in 2020 are inflated because of the widespread shutdowns—and subsequent large reduction in rail volumes—that impacted many economic sectors last year at this time.

Intermodal containers and trailers—at 281,968 units—increased 10.4% annually, trailing the weeks ending June 12 and June 5, at 288,007 and 286,921, respectively.

Through the first 24 weeks of 2021, U.S. rail carloads are up 8.6% annually, to 5,528,562, and intermodal units are up 18.2%, to 6,776,944.