AAR: Petroleum gains pace weekly, year-to-date volume increases
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefThe Association of American Railroads has reported an increase in traffic for the week ending May 4, 2013, with total U.S. weekly carloads of 283,916 up 2.8%, compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 245,678 units, up 2.8% compared with the same week last year. Total U.S. traffic for the week was 529,594 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.8% compared with the same week last year.
Six of the 10 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2012, led by petroleum and petroleum products, up 52.4%. Commodities showing a decrease included grain, down 5.9%.
For the first 18 weeks of 2013, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 4,963,512 carloads, down 2.1% from the same point last year, and 4,292,613 intermodal units, up 4.3% from last year. Total U.S. traffic for the first 18 weeks of 2013 was 9,256,125 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.8% from last year.
Canadian railroads reported 79,903 carloads for the week, down 1.4% compared with the same week last year, and 55,100 intermodal units, up 0.9% compared with 2012. For the first 18 weeks of 2013, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 1,417,047 carloads, up 2.2% from the same point last year, and 931,242 intermodal units, up 3.7% from last year.
Mexican railroads reported 14,296 carloads for the week, up 4.9% compared with the same week last year, and 7,838 intermodal units, down 9.7%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 18 weeks of 2013 is 267,262 carloads, up 8.5% from the same point last year, and 162,934 intermodal units, up 0.3% from last year.
Combined North American rail volume for the 18 weeks of 2013 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads totaled 6,647,821 carloads, down 0.8% compared with the same point last year, and 5,386,789 trailers and containers, up 4.1% compared with last year.
