The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending September 30, 2023, as well as volumes for September 2023.
U.S. railroads originated 921,716 carloads in September 2023, up 2.3 percent, or 20,754 carloads, from September 2022. U.S. railroads also originated 1,008,896 containers and trailers in September 2023, up 0.7 percent, or 7,096 units, from the same month last year. Combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations in September 2023 were 1,930,612, up 1.5 percent, or 27,850 carloads and intermodal units from September 2022.
In September 2023, 13 of the 20 carload commodity categories tracked by the AAR each month saw carload gains compared with September 2022. These included: motor vehicles & parts, up 8,327 carloads or 15.2 percent; petroleum & petroleum products, up 5,547 carloads or 16.0 percent; and chemicals, up 5,530 carloads or 4.6 percent. Commodities that saw declines in September 2023 from September 2022 included: grain, down 6,651 carloads or 9.0 percent; coal, down 4,012 carloads or 1.4 percent; and coke, down 1,062 carloads or 9.1 percent.
“Rail traffic, although improving, remains in uncertain territory along with the economy,” said AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray. “Intermodal had the best volume month of the year in September, showing, after three years, that ‘peak season’ still exists although much more reserved and occurring somewhat later than past peaks. Grain shipments improved slightly from extremely low summer levels, while chemicals and petroleum products had reasonably solid months. However, a sustained boost across rail categories will require stronger overall industrial growth.”
Excluding coal, carloads were up 24,766 carloads, or 4.0 percent, in September 2023 from September 2022. Excluding coal and grain, carloads were up 31,417 carloads, or 5.7 percent.
Total U.S. carload traffic for the first nine months of 2023 was 8,774,830 carloads, up 0.3 percent, or 24,723 carloads, from the same period last year; and 9,329,334 intermodal units, down 8.2 percent, or 831,733 containers and trailers, from last year.
Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 39 weeks of 2023 was 18,104,164 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 4.3 percent compared to last year.
Week Ending September 30, 2023
Total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 500,154 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.8 percent compared with the same week last year.
Total carloads for the week ending September 30 were 235,988 carloads, up 3.7 percent compared with the same week in 2022, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 264,166 containers and trailers, up 2.0 percent compared to 2022.
Nine of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2022. They included metallic ores and metals, up 2,681 carloads, to 23,142; chemicals, up 2,151 carloads, to 31,750; and motor vehicles and parts, up 1,403 carloads, to 15,973. One commodity group posted a decrease compared with the same week in 2022: grain, down 2,417 carloads, to 18,501.
North American rail volume for the week ending September 30, 2023, on 10 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 350,483 carloads, up 3.6 percent compared with the same week last year, and 346,771 intermodal units, down 1.5 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 697,254 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.0 percent. North American rail volume for the first 39 weeks of 2023 was 25,361,005 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.8 percent compared with 2022.
Canadian railroads reported 97,896 carloads for the week, up 2.1 percent, and 70,662 intermodal units, down 13.6 percent compared with the same week in 2022. For the first 39 weeks of 2023, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 6,175,243 carloads, containers and trailers, down 3.4 percent.
Mexican railroads reported 16,599 carloads for the week, up 12.2 percent compared with the same week last year, and 11,943 intermodal units, up 7.4 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 39 weeks of 2023 was 1,081,598 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 3.0 percent from the same point last year.
To view the rail traffic charts, click here.
