AAR reports mixed U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending October 23

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending October 23, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Rail carloads—at 239,195—increased 5.1% annually, topping the week ending October 16, at 229,730, and trailing the week ending October 9, at 239,821.

AAR reported that five of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: coal, up 8,175 carloads, to 65,712; metallic ores and metals, up 2,537 carloads, to 23,192; and miscellaneous carloads, up 1,537 carloads, to 11,036. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2020 were motor vehicles and parts, down 2,057 carloads, to 13,403; petroleum and petroleum products, down 623 carloads, to 9,544; and grain, down 138 carloads, to 25,857.

Intermodal containers and trailers—at 271,567—were down 8% annually, topping the weeks ending October 16 and October 9, at 267,253 and 268,821, respectively.

Through the first 42 weeks of 2021, AAR reported that U.S. rail carloads—at 9,718,385—are up 7.5% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers—at 11,617,749—are up 8.5% annually.