AAR: North American Rail Volume Down Through 31 Weeks

Union Pacific Photograph

For the first 31 weeks of 2023 (ending Aug. 5), total U.S. weekly rail traffic dipped 4.1% from the same point last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) Aug. 9 report. Both Canada and the U.S. saw declines, while Mexico saw an increase.

North American rail volume for the first 31 weeks of the year (ending Aug. 5) on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads came in at 20,030,596 carloads and intermodal units. Cumulative volume in Canada was 4,884,907 carloads, containers and trailers, down 2.9%; in Mexico, 873,208 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 4.9%; and in the U.S., 14,272,481 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.0%.

According to AAR, for the week ending Aug. 9, 2023, U.S. Class I railroads hauled a total of 471,938 carloads and intermodal units, falling 3.2% compared with the same week last year. This comprises 222,199 carloads—down 1.0% from the prior-year period—and 249,739 containers and trailers—down 5.2% compared with 2022.

Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2022. They included motor vehicles and parts, up 1,740 carloads, to 14,991; metallic ores and metals, up 1,131 carloads, to 22,050; and miscellaneous carloads, up 817 carloads, to 8,308. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2022 included grain, down 3,658 carloads, to 15,623; coal, down 1,245 carloads, to 64,574; and chemicals, down 799 carloads, to 30,264.

For the first 31 weeks of 2023, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 6,941,594 carloads, up 0.4% from the same point last year; and 7,330,887 intermodal units, down 9.5% from last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending August 5, 2023, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 328,156 carloads, up 0.7% compared with the same week last year, and 331,701 intermodal units, down 6.4% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 659,857 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.0%. North American rail volume for the first 31 weeks of 2023 was 20,030,596 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.1% compared with 2022.

Canadian railroads reported 89,149 carloads for the week, up 2.9%, and 71,762 intermodal units, down 10.9% compared with the same week in 2022. For the first 31 weeks of 2023, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 4,884,907 carloads, containers and trailers, down 2.9%.

Mexican railroads reported 16,808 carloads for the week, up 12.2% compared with the same week last year, and 10,200 intermodal units, down 1.4%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 31 weeks of 2023 was 873,208 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 4.9% from the same point last year.