AAR: North American Rail Volume Up Through Week 31

(CN)

North American carload and intermodal traffic for the first 31 weeks of 2025 (ending Aug. 2) was up 2.9% from the prior-year period, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) latest rail traffic report. While the United States and Canada both saw gains, Mexico experienced a loss.

North American rail volume on nine reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads came in at 20,943,417 carloads and intermodal units for the 31-week period ending Aug. 2, 2025, the AAR reported Aug. 6. Cumulative volume in the U.S. was 15,162,611 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 3.8% from the same point last year; in Canada, 5,035,654 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.6%; and in Mexico, 745,152 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.1%.

For the week ending Aug. 2, 2025, U.S. Class I railroads carried 513,529 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.9% from the same point last year, according to the AAR. That comprised 233,805 carloads, up 6.4% from 2024, and 279,724 containers and trailers, up 0.2% from 2024.

Nine of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2024. They included grain, up 4,402 carloads, to 21,557; coal, up 2,871 carloads, to 61,962; and motor vehicles and parts, up 1,467 carloads, to 15,822. One commodity group posted a decrease compared with the same week in 2024: petroleum and petroleum products, down 185 carloads, to 10,829.

For the first 31 weeks of this year, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 6,828,409 carloads, up 2.8% from the same period in 2024; and 8,334,202 intermodal units, up 4.7% from 2024.

North American rail volume for the week ending Aug. 2, 2025, on nine reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads totaled 337,571 carloads, up 4.5% compared with the same week last year, and 363,089 intermodal units, up 2.7% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America came in at 700,660 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.6%.

For the week ending Aug. 2, 2025, Canadian railroads reported 88,410 carloads, down 2.2%, and 72,286 intermodal units, up 13.0% compared with the same week last year.

Mexican railroads reported 15,356 carloads for the week ending Aug. 2, 2025, up 19.1% compared with the prior-year period, and 11,079 intermodal units, up 8.2%.