IANA: Intermodal up 1.4% in third quarter

Domestic container volume posted its strongest growth of the year in the third quarter, according to Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics report released Monday by the Intermodal Association of North America.

Total intermodal volume notched a 1.4% gain in the third quarter measured against the third quarter of 2010. That, IANA said, was a smaller rate of growth than had been anticipated due to the economy’s fluctuations and very difficult comparisons to last year’s early peak, which was in August.

Domestic container shipments increased 9.0% year-over-year during the quarter, slightly above the 8.8% and 8.6% upticks recorded in the first and second quarters of 2011, IANA said.

Despite “a stagnant economy and falling diesel prices,” overall intermodal volume recorded its seventh consecutive quarter of year-over year gains. But year-over-year international volume decreased 2.6% during the quarter, IANA said, noting many ports recorded declines in import volumes.

International units handled by rail did not mirror the decline in imports reported by most ports, suggesting that international volume may have gained share from highway movements.