AAR reports mixed U.S. carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending November 6

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending November 6, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Rail carloads—at 235,585—saw a 3.1% annual increase, trailing the week ending October 30, at 238,267, and also trailing the week ending October 23, at 239,195.

AAR said that five of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: coal, up 7,624 carloads, to 66,745; metallic ores and metals, up 3,486 carloads, to 21,039; and chemicals, up 1,178 carloads, to 33,780. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2020 included motor vehicles and parts, down 3,204 carloads, to 11,946; grain, down 2,039 carloads, to 25,386; and petroleum and petroleum products, down 413 carloads, to 10,010.

Intermodal containers and trailers—at 268,526—were down 9.6% annually, trailing the weeks ending October 30 and October 23, at 271,874 and 271,567, respectively.

Through the first 44 weeks of 2021, U.S. rail carloads—at 10,192,237—are up 7.4% annually, and intermodal units—at 12,158,149—are up 7.6%, for the same period.