AAR: North American Rail Volume Up Through Week 47

(CN photo)

North American carload and intermodal traffic for the first 47 weeks of 2025 (ending Nov. 22) was up 1.8% 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 31,955,940 carloads and intermodal units for the 47-week period ending Nov. 22, 2025, the AAR reported Nov. 26. Cumulative volume in the U.S. was 23,225,929 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 2.0% from the same point last year; in Canada, 7,619,166 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.3%; and in Mexico, 1,110,845 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.6%.

For the week ending Nov. 22, 2025, total U.S. rail traffic was 516,110 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.9% from the same week last year, according to the AAR. Total carloads came in at 234,592, up 2.0%, and intermodal volume was 281,518 containers and trailers, down 3.2%.

Four of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2024. They included coal, up 4,795 carloads, to 62,956; nonmetallic minerals, up 2,379 carloads, to 32,282; and grain, up 2,253 carloads, to 25,893. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2024 included petroleum and petroleum products, down 1,187 carloads, to 10,587; chemicals, down 1,092 carloads, to 32,699; and miscellaneous carloads, down 1,068 carloads, to 8,875.

For the first 47 weeks of this year, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 10,462,354 carloads, up 1.8% from the same point last year; and 12,763,575 intermodal units, up 2.1% from last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending Nov. 22, 2025, on nine reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads totaled 343,457 carloads, up 1.9% compared with the same week last year; and 365,425 intermodal units, down 2.0% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 708,882 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.1%.

For the week ending Nov. 22, 2025, Canadian railroads reported 96,121 carloads, up 1.5%, and 70,202 intermodal units, up 1.5% from the same week in 2024.

Mexican railroads reported 12,744 carloads for the week ending Nov. 22, 2025, up 1.5% from the same week last year, and 13,705 intermodal units, up 7.4% from last year.