North American rail volume for the first 25 weeks of the year (ending June 24) on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads came in at 16,158,745 carloads and intermodal units. Cumulative volume in Canada was 3,995,578 carloads, containers and trailers, down 1.2%; in Mexico, 680,280 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 2.3%; and in the U.S., 11,482,887 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.4%.
According to AAR, for the week ending June 24, 2023, U.S. Class I railroads hauled a total of 469,453 carloads and intermodal units, falling 3.2% compared with the same week last year. This comprises 222,431 carloads—down 0.4% from the prior-year period—and 247,022 containers and trailers—down 5.5% compared with 2022.
Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2022. They included motor vehicles and parts, up 3,471 carloads, to 16,314; metallic ores and metals, up 1,714 carloads, to 22,482; and miscellaneous carloads, up 1,651 carloads, to 10,403. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2022 included grain, down 5,977 carloads, to 14,647; chemicals, down 1,544 carloads, to 29,935; and farm products excl. grain, and food, down 1,016 carloads, to 15,062.
For the first 25 weeks of 2023, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 5,620,481 carloads, up 0.7% from the same point last year; and 5,862,406 intermodal units, down 10.5% from last year.
North American rail volume for the week ending June 24, 2023, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 328,426 carloads, up 1.0% compared with the same week last year, and 327,887 intermodal units, down 5.8% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 656,313 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.6%. North American rail volume for the first 25 weeks of 2023 was 16,158,745 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.0% compared with 2022.
Canadian railroads reported 89,146 carloads for the week, up 1.4%, and 69,439 intermodal units, down 9.5% compared with the same week in 2022. For the first 25 weeks of 2023, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 3,995,578 carloads, containers and trailers, down 1.2%.
Mexican railroads reported 16,849 carloads for the week, up 20.9% compared with the same week last year, and 11,426 intermodal units, up 13.1%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 25 weeks of 2023 was 680,280 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 2.3% from the same point last year.
