U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes see annual declines in June, reports AAR

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

Rail carloads—at 903,397—fell 0.2%, or 1,931 carloads—compared to June 2022.

AAR reported that 11 of the 20 carload commodity categories it tracks saw annual gains, including: motor vehicles & parts, up 11,142 carloads or 21.1%; metallic ores, up 4,786 carloads or 22.0%; and crushed stone, sand & gravel, up 4,540 carloads or 5.4%. Commodities posting annual declines included: grain, down 19,752 carloads or 24.0%; coal, down 3,772 carloads or 1.5%; and chemicals, down 3,750 carloads or 2.9%.

When excluding coal, U.S. carloads rose 1,841 carloads, or 0.3% annually, and when excluding coal and grain, U.S. carloads increased by 21,593 carloads, or 3.8%.

Intermodal containers and trailers—at 988,766 units—were down 3.6%, or 76,237 units, compared to June 2022.

Combined U.S. rail carload and intermodal units—at 1,892,163—saw a 3.9%, or 76,327 rail carload and intermodal units—annual decline.

“Recent rail traffic patterns point to contrasts in the broader economy,” said AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray in a statement. “For example, rail intermodal is largely consumer goods, but recent spending on goods has cooled considerably and, with it, intermodal volumes. On the other hand, rail carloads of industrial products are performing much better, reflecting relative strength in the auto, mineral extraction, and other sectors.”

For the week ending July 1, AAR reported that U.S. rail carloads fell 1.7%, to 223,254, and intermodal units were off 4.5% annually, to 251,189 containers and trailers.