U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes see gains, for week ending October 21, reports AAR

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending October 21, saw annual gains, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Rail carloads, at 234,893, increased 1.5% annually, topping the weeks ending October 14 and October 7, at 225, 405, and 233,768, respectively.

AAR reported that six of the ten carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: metallic ores and metals, up 3,855 carloads, to 22,463; nonmetallic minerals, up 1,595 carloads, to 33,966; and chemicals, up 1,076 carloads, to 31,517. Commodity groups posting annual declines included: grain, down 2,374 carloads, to 20,367; coal, down 1,442 carloads, to 67,459; and forest products, down 390 carloads, to 7,805.

Intermodal containers and trailers, at 271,092 units, rose 2.1% annually, coming in ahead of the weeks ending October 14 and October 7, at 267,376, and 265,449, respectively.

Through the first 42 weeks of 2023, AAR reported that U.S. rail carloads, at 9,468,896, are up 0.3% annually, and intermodal units, at 10,133,251, are off 7.4% annually.