North American rail volume for the first 33 weeks of the year (ending Aug. 19) on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads came in at 21,354,794 carloads and intermodal units. Cumulative volume in Canada was 5,204,561 carloads, containers and trailers, down 3.0%; in Mexico, 926,401 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 4.9%; and in the U.S., 15,223,832 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.9%.
According to AAR, for the week ending Aug. 19, 2023, U.S. Class I railroads hauled a total of 478,853 carloads and intermodal units, falling 2.7% compared with the same week last year. This comprises 228,972 carloads—down 0.6% from the prior-year period—and 249,881 containers and trailers—down 4.6% compared with 2022.
Four of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2022. They included motor vehicles and parts, up 2,326 carloads, to 16,293; coal, up 1,486 carloads, to 69,773; and petroleum and petroleum products, up 781 carloads, to 9,420. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2022 included grain, down 3,541 carloads, to 15,796; forest products, down 1,289 carloads, to 7,683; and farm products excl. grain, and food, down 1,011 carloads, to 15,638.
For the first 33 weeks of 2023, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 7,394,978 carloads, up 0.2% from the same point last year; and 7,828,854 intermodal units, down 9.2% from last year.
North American rail volume for the week ending August 19, 2023, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 335,400 carloads, up 0.9% compared with the same week last year, and 329,819 intermodal units, down 6.8% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 665,219 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.1%. North American rail volume for the first 33 weeks of 2023 was 21,354,794 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.0% compared with 2022.
Canadian railroads reported 90,149 carloads for the week, up 3.1%, and 71,108 intermodal units, down 12.6% compared with the same week in 2022. For the first 33 weeks of 2023, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 5,204,561 carloads, containers and trailers, down 3.0%.
Mexican railroads reported 16,279 carloads for the week, up 11.5% compared with the same week last year, and 8,830 intermodal units, down 16.2%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 33 weeks of 2023 was 926,401 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 4.9% from the same point last year.
