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With only a few weeks left in 2011, U.S. rail traffic continues to remain ahead of last year’s pace. During the week ending Dec. 10, railroads originated 297,400 carloads, up 3.7 percent, and 240,899 intermodal loads, up 3 percent compared with volumes from the same week last year, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
 
Thirteen of 20 carload commodity groups posted gains, led metals and products (26.6 percent), motor vehicles and equipment (23.1 percent), and metallic ores (21.9 percent). Farm products excluding grain traffic fell 16.6 percent, iron and steel scrap volume declined 10.9 percent, and agricultural products loads dipped 3 percent.

In terms of ag products, better global crop production recently has pressured U.S. crop exports because importers have greater choice, said Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. analysts in their latest weekly “Rail Flash” report.

“In a Dec. 9 report, the USDA lowered its forecast for U.S. wheat exports amid record global production,” they said.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported weekly carloads totaling 75,335, up 1.2 percent, and intermodal volume totaling 49,240 containers and trailers, up 3.3 year over year. Mexican railroads’ weekly carloads dropped 1.6 percent to 13,928 units, but intermodal volume climbed 23.9 percent to 9,118 units.

Through 2011’s first 49 weeks, 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads originated 18.7 million carloads, up 2.1 percent, and 14 million containers and trailers, up 4.9 percent compared with the same 2010 period.

For more AAR traffic data for the week ending Dec. 10 and through 49 weeks, follow this link.