The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported an increase in traffic for the week ending May 4, 2013, with total U.S. weekly carloads of 283,916 carloads, up 2.8 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 245,678 units, up 2.8 percent compared with the same week last year.  Total U.S. traffic for the week was 529,594 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.8 percent 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 percent. Commodities showing a decrease included grain, down 5.9 percent. For the first 18 weeks of 2013, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 4,963,512 carloads, down 2.1 percent from the same point last year, and 4,292,613 intermodal units, up 4.3 percent 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 percent from last year.

Canadian railroads reported 79,903 carloads for the week, down 1.4 percent compared with the same week last year, and 55,100 intermodal units, up 0.9 percent compared with 2012. For the first 18 weeks of 2013, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 1,417,047 carloads, up 2.2 percent from the same point last year, and 931,242 intermodal units, up 3.7 percent from last year.

Mexican railroads reported 14,296 carloads for the week, up 4.9 percent compared with the same week last year, and 7,838 intermodal units, down 9.7 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 18 weeks of 2013 is 267,262 carloads, up 8.5 percent from the same point last year, and 162,934 intermodal units, up 0.3 percent 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 percent compared with the same point last year, and 5,386,789 trailers and containers, up 4.1 percent compared with last year.