AAR: North American Rail Volume Down Through 27 Weeks

For the first 27 weeks of 2023 (ending July 8), total U.S. weekly rail traffic dipped 4.2% from the same point last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) July 12 report. Both Canada and the U.S. saw declines, while Mexico saw an increase.

North American rail volume for the first 27 weeks of the year (ending July 8) on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads came in at 17,384,731 carloads and intermodal units. Cumulative volume in Canada was 4,271,926 carloads, containers and trailers, down 2.2%; in Mexico, 747,632 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 4.1%; and in the U.S., 12,365,173 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.3%.

According to AAR, for the week ending July 8, 2023, U.S. Class I railroads hauled a total of 407,843 carloads and intermodal units, falling 5.1% compared with the same week last year. This comprises 197,086 carloads—down 2.3% from the prior-year period—and 210,757 containers and trailers—down 7.6% compared with 2022.

Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2022. They included metallic ores and metals, up 1,243 carloads, to 18,031; nonmetallic minerals, up 759 carloads, to 30,033; and petroleum and petroleum products, up 445 carloads, to 8,843. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2022 included grain, down 3,685 carloads, to 12,629; coal, down 1,745 carloads, to 58,369; and forest products, down 1,373 carloads, to 7,140.

For the first 27 weeks of 2023, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 6,040,821 carloads, up 0.5% from the same point last year; and 6,324,352 intermodal units, down 10.2% from last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending July 8, 2023, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 296,283 carloads, down 2.7% compared with the same week last year, and 260,069 intermodal units, down 16.8% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 556,352 carloads and intermodal units, down 9.8%. North American rail volume for the first 27 weeks of 2023 was 17,384,731 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.2% compared with 2022.

Canadian railroads reported 83,374 carloads for the week, down 2.7%, and 38,849 intermodal units, down 46.2 percent compared with the same week in 2022. For the first 27 weeks of 2023, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 4,271,926 carloads, containers and trailers, down 2.2%.

Mexican railroads reported 15,823 carloads for the week, down 7.5% compared with the same week last year, and 10,463 intermodal units, down 15.6%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 27 weeks of 2023 was 747,632 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 4.1% from the same point last year.