AAR: weekly traffic down 4% in North America

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported for the week ending September 3, 2016, total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 703,721 carloads and intermodal units, down 4%.

North American rail volume for the week ending September 3, 2016, on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 362,389 carloads, was down 4.1% compared with the same week last year, and 341,332 intermodal units, down 3.9% compared with last year.

Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2015. They included grain, up 30.2% to 24,455 carloads; miscellaneous carloads, up 24.1% to 11,425 carloads; and motor vehicles and parts, up 5.5% to 19,557 carloads. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2015 included petroleum and petroleum products, down 24.4% to 10,770 carloads; coal, down 16.2% to 90,575 carloads; and forest products, down 6.8% to 10,631 carloads.

Canadian railroads reported 75,431 carloads for the week, up 0.4%, and 63,715 intermodal units, down 0.4% compared with the same week in 2015. For the first 35 weeks of 2016, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 4,505,714 carloads, containers and trailers, down 6.9%.

Mexican railroads reported 13,841 carloads for the week, down 10.5% compared with the same week last year, and 11,908 intermodal units, up 5.2%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 35 weeks of 2016 was 940,177 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 2.2% from the same point last year.

North American rail volume for the first 35 weeks of 2016 was 23,157,141 carloads and intermodal units, down 6.9% compared with 2015.