AAR reports on latest rail traffic data

US railroads originated 866 865 carloads in March 2024, down 3.5%, or 31 101 carloads, from March 2023. US railroads also originated 1 022 321 containers and trailers in March 2024, up 11.7%, or 106 903 units, from the same month in 2023. Combined US carload and intermodal originations in March 2024 were 1 889 186, up 4.2%, or 75 802 carloads and intermodal units from March 2023.

In March 2024, 11 of the 20 carload commodity categories tracked by the AAR each month saw carload gains compared with March 2023. These included: grain, up 8475 carloads or 11.4%; chemicals, up 7248 carloads or 5.7%; and petroleum & petroleum products, up 5249 carloads or 15.0%. Commodities that saw declines in March 2024 from March 2023 included: coal, down 49 315 carloads or 18.6%; crushed stone, sand & gravel, down 5434 carloads or 6.7%; and metallic ores, down 1573 carloads or 8.9%.

“Large swaths of rail traffic reflect broader economic changes,” stated Dr. Rand Ghayad, Chief Economist at the Association of American Railroads. “The recent announcement by the Institute for Supply Management that its manufacturing sentiment index turned positive in March aligns with rail carloads, excluding coal, showing a healthy 2.9% growth. This growth was driven largely by chemicals, petroleum products, and autos, critical components of our economy. Conversely, coal volumes continue to decline due to ongoing shifts in electricity generation markets. Intermodal was again a bright spot in March, reflecting stable consumer spending, increasing port activity, and a reduction in inventory destocking.”

Excluding coal, carloads were up 18 214 carloads, or 2.9%, in March 2024 from March 2023. Excluding coal and grain, carloads were up 9739 carloads, or 1.7%.

Total US carload traffic for the first three months of 2024 was 2 773 827 carloads, down 4.2%, or 122 088 carloads, from the same period in 2023; and 3 268 647 intermodal units, up 9.1%, or 272 238 containers and trailers, from 2023.

Total combined US traffic for the first 13 weeks of 2024 was 6 042 474 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 2.5% compared to 2023.

Week Ending 30 March 2024

Total US weekly rail traffic was 472 651 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.2% compared with the same week in 2023.

Total carloads for the week ending 30 March were 218 733 carloads, down 3.2% compared with the same week in 2023, while US weekly intermodal volume was 253 918 containers and trailers, up 9.3% compared to 2023.

Eight of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2023. They included grain, up 1849 carloads, to 20 934; motor vehicles and parts, up 1387 carloads, to 16 260; and chemicals, up 1319 carloads, to 33 508. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2023 were coal, down 13 750 carloads, to 51 603; and metallic ores and metals, down 1279 carloads, to 21 129.

North American rail volume for the week ending 30 March 2024, on 10 reporting US, Canadian and Mexican railroads totalled 328 007 carloads, down 4.1% compared with the same week in 2023, and 335 908 intermodal units, up 8.2% compared with 2023. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 663 915 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.8%. North American rail volume for the first 13 weeks of 2024 was 8 462 498 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.8% compared with 2023.

Canadian railroads reported 92 728 carloads for the week, down 5.0%, and 71 047 intermodal units, up 8.0% compared with the same week in 2023. For the first 13 weeks of 2024, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 2 050 973 carloads, containers and trailers, down 0.8%.

Mexican railroads reported 16 546 carloads for the week, down 10.4% compared with the same week in 2024, and 10 943 intermodal units, down 11.0%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 13 weeks of 2024 was 369 051 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 5.1% from the same point in 2023.

Read the article online at: https://www.drybulkmagazine.com/rail-barge/04042024/aar-reports-on-latest-rail-traffic-data/