AAR: North American Rail Volume Down Through 37 Weeks

Union Pacific Photograph

For the first 37 weeks of 2023 (ending Sept. 16), total U.S. weekly rail traffic dipped 4.1% from the same point last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) Sept. 20 report. Both Canada and the U.S. saw declines, while Mexico saw an increase.

North American rail volume for the first 37 weeks of the year (ending Sept. 16) on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads came in at 23,974,092 carloads and intermodal units. Cumulative volume in Canada was 5,837,742 carloads, containers and trailers, down 3.5%; in Mexico, 1,025,663 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 3.2%; and in the U.S., 17,110,687 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.6%.

According to AAR, for the week ending Sept. 16, 2023, U.S. Class I railroads hauled a total of 489,790 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.8% compared with the same week last year. This comprises 232,723 carloads—up 0.2% from the prior-year period—and 257,067 containers and trailers—up 3.3% compared with 2022.

Six of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2022. They included motor vehicles and parts, up 2,410 carloads, to 16,233; petroleum and petroleum products, up 1,498 carloads, to 10,393; and chemicals, up 1,072 carloads, to 32,758. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2022 included coal, down 3,518 carloads, to 69,268; grain, down 1,581 carloads, to 16,294; and nonmetallic minerals, down 637 carloads, to 33,914.

For the first 37 weeks of 2023, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 8,303,938 carloads, up 0.1% from the same point last year; and 8,806,749 intermodal units, down 8.7% from last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending Sept. 16, 2023, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 341,118 carloads, down 0.6% compared with the same week last year, and 339,525 intermodal units, down 1.0% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 680,643 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.8%. North American rail volume for the first 37 weeks of 2023 was 23,974,092 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.1% compared with 2022.

Canadian railroads reported 92,110 carloads for the week, down 1.2%, and 71,440 intermodal units, down 12.8% compared with the same week in 2022. For the first 37 weeks of 2023, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 5,837,742 carloads, containers and trailers, down 3.5%.

Mexican railroads reported 16,285 carloads for the week, down 7.4% compared with the same week last year, and 11,018 intermodal units, down 9.8%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 37 weeks of 2023 was 1,025,663 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 3.2% from the same point last year.