North American Rail Volume Down Through 51 Weeks, AAR

(NS Photograph)

Through the first 51 weeks of 2022 (ending Dec. 24), total North American carload and intermodal traffic dipped 1.9% from the same point last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Dec. 28. Both the U.S. and Canada experienced decreases, while Mexico saw an increase.

North American rail volume for the first 51 weeks of this year (ending Dec. 24) on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads came in at 34,396,219 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers.

Cumulative volume in the U.S. was 25,063,210 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.7% from 2021; in Canada, 7,409,978 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.7%; and in Mexico, 1,923,031 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.3%.

According to AAR, for the week ending Dec. 24, 2022, U.S. Class I railroads hauled a total of 400,289 carloads and intermodal units, falling 4.8% from the same week in 2021. This comprises 193,195 carloads—down 4.1% from the prior-year period—and 207,094 containers and trailers—down 5.5% compared with 2021.

Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase for the week ending Dec. 24, 2022, compared with the same week in 2021. They included motor vehicles and parts, up 1,486 carloads, to 11,349; petroleum and petroleum products, up 892 carloads, to 9,599; and nonmetallic minerals, up 870 carloads, to 23,735. Commodity groups that posted decreases included coal, down 9,265 carloads, to 50,264; chemicals, down 1,069 carloads, to 29,505; and grain, down 997 carloads, to 18,198.

For the first 51 weeks of 2022, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 11,796,291 carloads, down 0.1% from the same point last year; and 13,266,919 intermodal units, down 4.9% from last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending Dec. 24, 2022, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 278,859 carloads, decreasing 3.5% compared with the same week last year, and 268,287 intermodal units, dropping 6.7% vs. 2021. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America came in at 547,146 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.1%.

For the week ending Dec. 24, 2022, Canadian railroads reported 64,912 carloads, an 8.3% decrease, and 45,613 intermodal units, a 20.6% drop vs. the same point last year.

For the week ending Dec. 24, 2022, Mexican railroads reported 20,752 carloads, rising 25.5% from the same week last year, and 15,580 intermodal units, gaining 41.6%.