United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending January 3, saw annual declines, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Rail carloads, at 192,665, were off 2.8% annually, trailing the weeks ending December 27 and December 20, at 186,673, and 206,674, respectively.
AAR said that two of the 1o carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: chemicals, up 734 carloads to 32,493; and grain, up 195 carloads to 21,022. Commodity groups posting annual declines included: nonmetallic minerals, down 1,393 carloads to 21,565; miscellaneous carloads, down 1,238 carloads to 5,734; and farm products excluding grain, and food, down 769 carloads to 15,694.
Intermodal containers and trailers, at 211,628 units, fell 5.1% annually, topping the week ending December 27, at 203,622, and trailing the week ending December 20, at 280,464.
For calendar year 2025, AAR said that U.S. rail carloads came in at 11,508,797, increasing 1.5% annually, and intermodal units, at 14,055,633, were also up 1.5% annually. Total 2025 U.S. carload and intermodal volume, at 25,564,430, posted a 1.5% annual increase.
