United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending February 1, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Rail carloads, at 222,071, were off 0.1% annually, topping the weeks ending January 25 and January 18, at 189,125 carloads, and 216,457 carloads, respectively.
AAR reported that five of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: chemicals, up 1,332 carloads, to 33,374; grain, up 1,151 carloads, to 22,114; and nonmetallic minerals, up 672 carloads, to 26,637. Commodity groups posting annual declines included: coal, down 2,849 carloads, to 59,863; metallic ores and metals, down 633 carloads, to 18,815; and forest products, down 506 carloads, to 8,271.
Intermodal containers and trailers, at 291,551, saw an 8.2% annual gain, topping the weeks ending January 25 and January 18, at 265,672 units, and 283,703 units, respectively.
Through the first five weeks of 2025, AAR reported that U.S. rail carloads, at 1,025,664, are up 0.2% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 1,329,715 units, are up 10.3% annually.
