The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported increased weekly rail traffic for the week ending July 6, 2013, with total U.S. weekly carloads of 247,896 carloads, up 2 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 205,597 units, up 1.1 percent compared with the same week last year. Total U.S. traffic for the week was 453,493 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.6 percent compared with the same week last year. Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2012, including petroleum and petroleum products, up 36.3 percent, and nonmetallic minerals and products, up 11.6 percent. Commodities showing a decrease compared with the same week last year included motor vehicles and parts, down 13.8 percent. For the first 27 weeks of 2013, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 7,465,261 carloads, down 1.4 percent from the same point last year, and 6,476,035 intermodal units, up 3.6 percent from last year. Total U.S. traffic for the first 27 weeks of 2013 was 13,941,296 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.9 percent from last year.
Canadian railroads reported 68,361 carloads for the week, down 7.3 percent compared with the same week last year, and 50,860 intermodal units, up 5.1 percent compared with 2012. For the first 27 weeks of 2013, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 2,102,875 carloads, up 1.6 percent from the same point last year, and 1,416,399 intermodal units, up 4.4 percent from last year.
Mexican railroads reported 16,036 carloads for the week, up 13.7 percent compared with the same week last year, and 9,099 intermodal units, up 0.2 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 27 weeks of 2013 is 414,464 carloads, up 9.6 percent from the same point last year, and 251,930 intermodal units, down 0.1 percent from last year.
Combined North American rail volume for the 27 weeks of 2013 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 9,982,600 carloads, down 0.3 percent compared with the same point last year, and 8,144,364 trailers and containers, up 3.6 percent compared with last year.
