AAR reports carload and intermodal declines for week ending July 16

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes again saw declines for the week ending July 16, according to data issued by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Carloads were down 5.4 percent at 262,202, which topped the week ending July 9 at 228,615 and were below the week ending July 2 at 264,015.

The AAR said three of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks were up compared to the same week a year ago, with grain up 25.3 percent to 25,681, miscellaneous carloads up 14 percent to 10,647, and chemicals, up 2.9 percent to 30,917. Petroleum and petroleum products dropped 15.8 percent to 11,221 carloads, and coal fell 15.5 percent to 84,272.

Intermodal containers and trailers were off 5.8 percent at 258,020 containers and trailers, which surpassed the week ending July 9 at 215,498 and was below the week ending July 2 at 265,176.

On a year-to-date basis through the first 28 weeks of 2016, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 6,784,480 carloads, down 12.2 from the same point last year; and 7,186,521 intermodal units, down 2.8 percent from last year.