AAR releases rail traffic update

US railroads originated 1 162 736 carloads in November 2022, down 0.9%, or 10 437 carloads, from November 2021. US railroads also originated 1 230 291 containers and trailers in November 2022, down 5.4%, or 70 107 units, from the same month last year. Combined US carload and intermodal originations in November 2022 were 2 393 027 down 3.3%, or 80 544 carloads and intermodal units from November 2021.

In November 2022, eight of the 20 carload commodity categories tracked by the AAR each month saw carload gains compared with November 2021. These included: crushed stone, sand & gravel, up 8726 carloads or 9.2%; motor vehicles & parts, up 5372 carloads or 8.3%; and all other carloads, up 2579 carloads or 10%. Commodities that saw declines in November 2022 from November 2021 included: chemicals, down 17 608 carloads or 10.3%; grain, down 3757 carloads or 3%; and pulp & paper products, down 1993 carloads or 7.2%.

AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray, said:

“Thanksgiving week is one of the lowest volume weeks of the year for rail traffic, which means November rail volumes frequently do not clearly demonstrate underlying sequential trends.”

“As has been the case for months, some sectors continue to show strength while others face headwinds. For example, relatively slow lumber carloads are consistent with the weak market for new home construction. Conversely, rail hauled motor vehicles and vehicle parts volumes have been rising as automakers have increased output thanks to greater parts availability.”

Excluding coal, carloads were down 12 153 carloads, or 1.4%, in November 2022 from November 2021. Excluding coal and grain, carloads were down 8396 carloads, or 1.2%. Total US carload traffic for the first 11 months of 2022 was 11 134 112 carloads, up 0%, or 4475 carloads, from the same period last year; and 12 552 267 intermodal units, down 4.8%, or 637 473 containers and trailers, from last year.

Total combined US traffic for the first 48 weeks of 2022 was 23 686 379 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 2.6% compared to last year.

Read the article online at: https://www.drybulkmagazine.com/rail-barge/08122022/aar-releases-rail-traffic-update/