U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes are mixed for the week ending August 21

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending August 21, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Rail carloads—at 230,754—eked out a 0.4% annual gain, trailing the week ending August 14, at 235,011, and the week ending August 7, at 234,336.

AAR said that five of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: metallic ores and metals, up 4,551 carloads, to 23,522; nonmetallic minerals, up 2,802 carloads, to 33,109; and miscellaneous carloads, up 1,042 carloads, to 10,653. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2020 included grain, down 4,483 carloads, to 18,098; motor vehicles and parts, down 2,513 carloads, to 13,974; and farm products excl. grain, and food, down 1,042 carloads, to 14,906.

Intermodal containers and trailers—at 270,519—were off 5.1% compared to the same week last year and topped the week ending August 14, at 269,799, and trailed the week ending August 7, at 275,271.

Through the first 33 weeks of 2021, AAR reported that U.S. rail carloads—at 7,607,296—are up 8.6% annually, and intermodal units—at 9,213,825—are up 13.3%.