U.S. railroads log lower carload, intermodal volumes in Week 16

U.S. railroads reported the total number of carloads, containers and trailers they hauled during the week ending April 23 fell 7.4% to 498,011 units compared with volumes during the same week a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Total carloads decreased 4.5% to 229,044 units, while total intermodal volume fell 9.8% to 268,967 containers and trailers.

Two of the 10 carload commodity groups tracked each week posted increases: Motor vehicles and parts rose 1,939 carloads to 13,250; and farm products — excluding grain and food — climbed 655 carloads to 16,260.

Commodity groups that posted decreases included coal, down 6,010 carloads to 57,894; grain, down 2,351 carloads to 23,106; and metallic ores and metals, down 1,959 carloads to 22,259.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads logged 77,262 carloads for the week, down 1%, and 71,986 intermodal units, up 1%. Mexican railroads posted 22,219 carloads for the week, down 1.6%, and 16,186 intermodal units, down 9.3%.

For the first 16 weeks of 2022 compared with the same period in 2021:
• U.S. railroads reported 7,853,193 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.2%;
• Canadian railroads reported 2,232,551 carloads, containers and trailers, down 8%; and
• Mexican railroads reported 587,378 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 1%.