AAR reports on latest rail traffic

US railroads originated 885 548 carloads in February 2024, down 1.3%, or 11 410 carloads, from February 2023. US railroads also originated 1 040 312 containers and trailers in February 2024, up 10.9%, or 102 140 units, from the same month in 2023. Combined US carload and intermodal originations in February 2024 were 1 925 860, up 4.9%, or 90 730 carloads and intermodal units from February 2023.

In February 2024, 13 of the 20 carload commodity categories tracked by the AAR each month saw carload gains compared with February 2023. These included: motor vehicles & parts, up 6777 carloads or 12.3%; chemicals, up 6522 carloads or 5.1%; and grain, up 4971 carloads or 6.3%. Commodities that saw declines in February 2024 from February 2023 included: coal, down 31 912 carloads or 11.7%; crushed stone, sand & gravel, down 8037 carloads or 10.1%; and nonmetallic minerals, down 1467 carloads or 12.7%.

“In February, US rail traffic recovered from disruptions caused by severe winter weather in January. However, a closer look at February’s rail traffic data shows elements that inspire optimism and elements that call for caution,” said Dr Rand Ghayad, the newly appointed Chief Economist at the Association of American Railroads. “Intermodal volumes have consistently grown over the past six months, signalling increased confidence among consumers and retailers. At the same time, carloads of industrial products remain below levels from last spring and summer, reflecting ongoing challenges in the industrial sector.?

“Looking ahead, we hope to see improvements in manufacturing output and consumer spending, which are key drivers of rail transportation. This comes as the goods-producing sector begins to rebound from the stagnation experienced in the sector following the post-COVID-19 period.”

Excluding coal, carloads were up 20 502 carloads, or 3.3%, in February 2024 from February 2023. Excluding coal and grain, carloads were up 15 531 carloads, or 2.8%.

Total US carload traffic for the first two months of 2024 was 1 910 716 carloads, down 4.6% , or 91 135 carloads, from the same period in 2023; and 2 246 326 intermodal units, up 7.9%, or 165 335 containers and trailers, from 2023.

Total combined US traffic for the first nine weeks of 2024 was 4 157 042 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 1.8%compared to 2023.

Week ending 2 March 2024

Total US weekly rail traffic was 483 138 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.9% compared with the same week in 2023.

Total carloads for the week ending 2 March were 220 406 carloads, down 4.3% compared with the same week in 2023, while US weekly intermodal volume was 262 732 containers and trailers, up 12.0% compared to 2023.

Eight of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2023. They included motor vehicles and parts, up 1625 carloads, to 15 890; metallic ores and metals, up 1525 carloads, to 19 732; and miscellaneous carloads, up 1303 carloads, to 8939. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2023 were coal, down 14 965 carloads, to 57 929; and nonmetallic minerals, down 1797 carloads, to 28 835.

North American rail volume for the week ending 2 March 2024, on 10 reporting US, Canadian and Mexican railroads totalled 324 643 carloads, down 4.6% compared with the same week in 2023, and 344 823 intermodal units, up 10.9% compared with 2023. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 669 466 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.8%. North American rail volume for the first nine weeks of 2024 was 5 792 102 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.9% compared with 2023.

Canadian railroads reported 89 148 carloads for the week, down 3.6%, and 71 183 intermodal units, up 9.2% compared with the same week in 2023. For the first nine weeks of 2024, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 1 393 380 carloads, containers and trailers, down 2.3%.

Mexican railroads reported 15 089 carloads for the week, down 14.0% compared with the same week in 2023, and 10 908 intermodal units, down 2.2%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first nine weeks of 2024 was 241 680 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 4.7% from the same point in 2023.

Read the article online at: https://www.drybulkmagazine.com/rail-barge/08032024/aar-reports-on-latest-rail-traffic/