Coal only double-digit gainer for U.S. railroads in latest week

The Association of American Railroads reported U.S. railroads for the week ending July 1 originated 546,361 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.2% compared with the same week in 2016.

A total of 270,353 carloads gained 2.3% on-year, while intermodal volume was 276,008 containers and trailers, up 4%.

Five of the 10 carload commodity groups tracked by AAR posted increases compared with the same week in 2016 led by coal, up 10.1% to 87,750 carloads; nonmetallic minerals, up 9% to 39,503 carloads, and chemicals, ahead 2% to 31,851 carloads.

Petroleum and petroleum products led decliners, down 20.8% to 8,862 carloads; followed by motor vehicles and parts, off 12% to 16,503 carloads, and farm products excluding grain and food, down 6.1% to 16,044 carloads.

North American rail volume for the week on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 366,143 carloads, up 4.5%, and 353,457 intermodal units, up 5.9%. Total combined weekly rail traffic was 719,600 carloads and intermodal units, a gain of 5.2% from the same period a year ago.

Canadian railroads reported 79,043 carloads for the week, up 15.1%, and 66,334 intermodal units, up 15.6%.

Mexican railroads reported 16,747 carloads for the week, down 4.8%, and 11,115 intermodal units, up 0.04%.