The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending January 7, 2017.
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 441,417 carloads and intermodal units, down 11.4 percent compared with the same week last year.
Total carloads for the week ending January 7 were 221,146 carloads, down 7.7 percent compared with the same week in 2016, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 220,271 containers and trailers, down 14.9 percent compared to 2016.
Two of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2016. They were metallic ores and metals, up 5.4 percent to 20,403 carloads; and grain, up 0.9 percent to 21,476 carloads. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2016 included petroleum and petroleum products, down 32.1 percent to 8,903 carloads; farm products excl. grain, and food, down 18.4 percent to 13,802 carloads; and forest products, down 15.3 percent to 9,034 carloads.
For the first week of 2017, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 221,146 carloads, down 7.7 percent from the same point last year; and 220,271 intermodal units, down 14.9 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first week of 2017 was 441,417 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 11.4 percent compared to last year.
North American rail volume for the week ending January 7, 2017, on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 302,333 carloads, down 6.5 percent compared with the same week last year, and 279,604 intermodal units, down 14.6 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 581,937 carloads and intermodal units, down 10.6 percent. North American rail volume for the first week of 2017 was 581,937 carloads and intermodal units, down 10.6 percent compared with 2016.
Canadian railroads reported 69,926 carloads for the week, up 1.9 percent, and 51,154 intermodal units, down 12.6 percent compared with the same week in 2016. For the first week of 2017, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 121,080 carloads, containers and trailers, down 4.8 percent.
Mexican railroads reported 11,261 carloads for the week, down 26.5 percent compared with the same week last year, and 8,179 intermodal units, down 16.5 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first week of 2017 was 19,440 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 22.6 percent from the same point last year.
