The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported an increase in traffic for the week ending March 23, 2013, with total U.S. weekly carloads of 278,738 carloads, up 0.2 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 235,641 units, up 1.4 percent compared with the same week last year.  Total U.S. traffic for the week was 514,379 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.7 percent compared with the same week last year. Four of the 10 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2012, led by petroleum products, up 57 percent. Commodities showing a decrease were led by grain, down 17.3 percent. For the first 12 weeks of 2013, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 3,289,507 carloads, down 3 percent from the same point last year, and 2,851,329 intermodal units, up 6.2 percent from last year. Total U.S. traffic for the first 12 weeks of 2013 was 6,140,836 carloads and intermodal units, up 1 percent from last year.

Canadian railroads reported 79,130 carloads for the week, up 1.9 percent compared with the same week last year, and 50,589 intermodal units, down 2.2 percent compared with 2012. For the first 12 weeks of 2013, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 927,709 carloads, up 2.4 percent from the same point last year, and 613,408 intermodal units, up 5.8 percent from last year.

Mexican railroads reported 15,990 carloads for the week, up 12.7 percent compared with the same week last year, and 7,585 intermodal units, down 15.5 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 12 weeks of 2013 is 178,156 carloads, up 9.8 percent from the same point last year, and 110,534 intermodal units, up 2.2 percent from last year.

Combined North American rail volume for the 12 weeks of 2013 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 4,395,372 carloads, down 1.5 percent compared with the same point last year, and 3,575,271 trailers and containers, up 6 percent compared with last year.