The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported mixed traffic for the week ending April 13, 2013, with total U.S. weekly carloads of 275,675 carloads, down 0.6 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 241,987 units, up 3.3 percent compared with the same week last year. Total U.S. traffic for the week was 517,662 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.2 percent compared with the same week last year. Four of the 10 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2012, including petroleum and petroleum products, up 51.2 percent, and motor vehicles and parts, up 10.9 percent. Commodities showing a decrease included metallic ores, down 13.8 percent, and grain, down 12.1 percent. For the first 15 weeks of 2013, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 4,127,296 carloads, down 2.4 percent from the same point last year, and 3,558,668 intermodal units, up 4.9 percent from last year. Total U.S. traffic for the first 15 weeks of 2013 was 7,685,964 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.8 percent from last year.
Canadian railroads reported 82,077 carloads for the week, up 1.2 percent compared with the same week last year, and 53,818 intermodal units, up 1.9 percent compared with 2012. For the first 15 weeks of 2013, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 1,171,947 carloads, up 2.6 percent from the same point last year, and 766,357 intermodal units, up 4.2 percent from last year.
Mexican railroads reported 15,455 carloads for the week, up 15 percent compared with the same week last year, and 9,814 intermodal units, up 1.8 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 15 weeks of 2013 is 222,339 carloads, up 9.7 percent from the same point last year, and 137,141 intermodal units, up 2.3 percent from last year.
Combined North American rail volume for the 15 weeks of 2013 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 5,521,582 carloads, down 0.9 percent compared with the same point last year, and 4,462,166 trailers and containers, up 4.7 percent compared with last year.
