AAR: North American Rail Volume Down Through 42 Weeks

(Union Pacific Photograph)

Through the first 42 weeks of 2023 (ending Oct. 21), total North American carload and intermodal traffic decreased 3.5% from the same point last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Oct. 25. Both the U.S. and Canada experienced declines, while Mexico saw a gain.

North American rail volume for the first 42 weeks of this year (ending Oct. 21) on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads was 27,452,637 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers. Cumulative volume in the U.S. came in at 19,602,147 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.8% from 2022; in Canada, 6,677,072 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.5%; and in Mexico, 1,173,418 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.4%.

For the week ending Oct. 21, 2023, U.S. Class I railroads moved a total of 505,985 carloads and intermodal units, rising 1.8% from the prior-year period, according to the AAR. This comprises 234,893 carloads—up 1.5% from 2022—and 271,092 containers and trailers—up 2.1% compared with last year.

Six of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2022. They included metallic ores and metals, up 3,855 carloads, to 22,463; nonmetallic minerals, up 1,595 carloads, to 33,966; and chemicals, up 1,076 carloads, to 31,517. Commodity groups that posted declines included grain, down 2,374 carloads, to 20,367; coal, down 1,442 carloads, to 67,459; and forest products, down 390 carloads, to 7,805.

For the first 42 weeks of 2023, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 9,468,896 carloads, up 0.3% from the same point last year; and 10,133,251 intermodal units, down 7.4% from 2022.

North American rail volume for the week ending Oct. 21, 2023, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 348,134 carloads, up 0.3% from the prior-year period, and 355,428 intermodal units, down 0.1% from 2022. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 703,562 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.1%.

Canadian railroads reported 96,761 carloads for the week ending Oct. 21, 2023, a 1.0% dip, and 72,717 intermodal units, a 5.0% decline from the same week last year.  

Mexican railroads reported 16,480 carloads for the week ending Oct. 21, 2023, falling 8.3% vs. the prior-year period, and 11,619 intermodal units, dropping 13.8%.