AAR: North American Rail Volume Down Through 21 Weeks
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
For the first 21 weeks of 2023 (ending May 27), total U.S. weekly rail traffic dipped 4.1% from the same point last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) May 31 report. Both Canada and the U.S. saw declines, while Mexico saw an increase.
North American rail volume for the first 21 weeks of the year (ending May 27) on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads came in at 13,563,680 carloads and intermodal units. Cumulative volume in Canada was 3,360,607 carloads, containers and trailers, down 0.6%; in Mexico, 578,147 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 1.7%; and in the U.S., 9,624,926 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.5%.
According to AAR, for the week ending May 27, 2023, U.S. Class I railroads hauled a total of 480,998 carloads and intermodal units, falling 4.8% compared with the same week last year. This comprises 235,307 carloads —up 3.5% from the prior-year period—and 245,691 containers and trailers—down 11.6% compared with 2022.
Six of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2022. They included metallic ores and metals, up 4,429 carloads, to 25,026; nonmetallic minerals, up 3,254 carloads, to 35,151; and motor vehicles and parts, up 2,385 carloads, to 16,047. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2022 included miscellaneous carloads, down 1,177 carloads, to 9,795; grain, down 769 carloads, to 19,798; and coal, down 717 carloads, to 63,220.
For the first 21 weeks of 2023, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 4,720,543 carloads, up 0.7% from the same point last year; and 4,904,383 intermodal units, down 10.8% from last year.
North American rail volume for the week ending May 27, 2023, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 337,575 carloads, up 1.7% compared with the same week last year, and 331,924 intermodal units, down 9.3% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 669,499 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.1%. North American rail volume for the first 21 weeks of 2023 was 13,563,680 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.1% compared with 2022.
Canadian railroads reported 86,249 carloads for the week, down 4.1%, and 75,251 intermodal units, down 3.6% compared with the same week in 2022. For the first 21 weeks of 2023, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 3,360,607 carloads, containers and trailers, down 0.6%.
Mexican railroads reported 16,019 carloads for the week, up 9.0% compared with the same week last year, and 10,982 intermodal units, up 7.3%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 21 weeks of 2023 was 578,147 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 1.7% from the same point last year.
