AAR: North American Rail Volume Up Through Week 25

(CSX photo)

North American carload and intermodal traffic for the first 25 weeks of 2025 (ending June 21) was up 2.8% 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 16,860,018 carloads and intermodal units for the 25-week period ending June 21, 2025, the AAR reported June 25. Cumulative volume in the U.S. was 12,197,472 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 4.1% from the same point last year; in Canada, 4,071,342 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.1%; and in Mexico, 591,204 carloads and intermodal units, down 8.8%.

For the week ending June 25, 2025, U.S. Class I railroads carried 487,328 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.4% compared with the same point last year, according to the AAR. That comprised 229,655 carloads, up 4.5% from last year, and 257,673 containers and trailers, down 2.9% from 2024.

Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2024. They included grain, up 3,913 carloads, to 21,300; miscellaneous carloads, up 2,059 carloads, to 10,723; and metallic ores and metals, up 1,167 carloads, to 22,269. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2024 were nonmetallic minerals, down 529 carloads, to 31,460; forest products, down 29 carloads, to 8,050; and farm products excl. grain, and food, down 6 carloads, to 16,872.

For the first 25 weeks of this year, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 5,480,340 carloads, a 2.5% increase over the year-ago period; and 6,717,132 intermodal units, a 5.4% gain.

North American rail volume for the week ending June 21, 2025, on nine reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads totaled 336,048 carloads, up 3.5% from the same week last year, and 343,777 intermodal units, down 0.8% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 679,825 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.3%.

Canadian railroads reported 89,135 carloads for the week ending June 21, 2025, rising 1.3%, and 75,604 intermodal units, increasing 8.9% from the same week last year.

For the week ending June 21, 2025, Mexican railroads reported 17,258 carloads, up 1.8% from the same point last year, and 10,500 intermodal units, down 10.7%.