Total rail traffic for the week ending Aug. 30, 2025, comprised 234,740 carloads, up 0.6% from the same week last year, and 286,762 intermodal units, up 1.2% from 2024, according to the AAR.
Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2024. They included chemicals, up 1,618 carloads, to 34,960; metallic ores and metals, up 762 carloads, to 22,362; and nonmetallic minerals, up 446 carloads, to 32,602. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2024 included petroleum and petroleum products, down 878 carloads, to 10,559; grain, down 741 carloads, to 19,766; and forest products, down 288 carloads, to 8,236.
For the first 35 weeks of this year, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 7,749,143 carloads, up 2.5% from the same point last year; and 9,471,467 intermodal units, up 4.1% from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 35 weeks of 2025 was 17,220,610 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 3.4% compared to last year.
North American rail volume for the week ending Aug. 30, 2025, on nine reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 338,856 carloads, down 2.2% compared with the same week last year, and 374,612 intermodal units, up 5.2% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 713,468 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.6%. North American rail volume for the first 35 weeks of 2025 was 23,701,966 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.7% compared with 2024.
Canadian railroads reported 90,367 carloads for the week ending Aug. 30, 2025, a down 3.9%, and 71,949 intermodal units, up 23.1% compared with the same week last year. For the first 35 weeks of 2025, they reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 5,661,886 carloads, containers and trailers, up 2.3% compared with the prior-year period.
For the week ending Aug. 30, 2025, Mexican railroads reported 13,749 carloads, down 28.0% compared with the same week last year, and 15,901 intermodal units, a 12.1% jump. Their cumulative volume for the first 35 weeks of 2025 was 819,470 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, dropping 8.5% from the same point last year.
