AAR reports annual U.S. carload and intermodal gains for week ending July 15

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes each saw annual gains for the week ending July 15, according to data issued by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Carloads headed up 0.3 percent to 262,869, which topped the week ending July 8 (including the July 4 holiday) at 229,501, and trailed the week ending July 1 at 276,008.

The AAR said that five of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks posted an annual increase, including: nonmetallic minerals, up 14.3 percent to 40,764 carloads; farm products excl. grain, and food, up 4.1 percent to 16,567 carloads; and forest products, up 3.2 percent to 10,205 carloads. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2016 included petroleum and petroleum products, down 16.8 percent to 9,337 carloads; motor vehicles and parts, down 12.5 percent to 12,299 carloads; and grain, down 10.9 percent to 22,802 carloads.

Intermodal containers and trailers saw a 7.4 percent annual gain to 277,136, which was below the week ending July 8 at 223,519 and ahead of the week ending July 1 at 276,008.

Through the first 28 weeks of the year, U.S. rail carloads are up 6 percent at 7,191,823, and intermodal units are up 2.9 percent at 7,393,388.