AAR reports mixed volumes for week ending July 11

Rail carload and intermodal volumes were once again mixed for the week ending July 11, according to data issued by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

U.S. carloads were down 6.6 percent annually at 271,494, which topped the week ending July 4 at 251,269 and below the week ending June 27 at 275,564 and 273,932 during the week of June 20.

Of the ten commodity categories tracked by the AAR, three saw annual gains compared to the same week last year, with grain up 8.1 percent to 18,500 carloads and farm products up 2.7 percent to 16,967 carloads. Petroleum and petroleum products were down 15.9 percent to 12,882 carloads, and coal dropped 10.5 percent to 95,318 carloads.

Intermodal volume was up 2.4 percent at 262,603 containers and trailers, which was ahead of the week ending July 4 at 255,015 and below the week ending June 27 and June 20, which were at 275,564 and 276,907, respectively.

Through the first 27 weeks of 2014, U.S. carloads are down 4 percent annually at 7,453,331, and intermodal units are up 2.6 percent at 7,122,647.