United States rail carload and intermodal volumes saw gains, for the week ending August 9, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Rail carloads, at 227,327, rose 2.4% annually, trailing the week ending August 2, at 233,085, and the week ending July 26, at 231,029.
AAR reported that seven of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: metallic ores and metals, up 1,825 carloads, to 21,247; grain, up 1,052 carloads, to 19,454; and coal, up 810 carloads, to 61,843. Commodity groups posting annual declines included: petroleum and petroleum products, down 232 carloads, to 10,092; chemicals, down 123 carloads, to 32,838; and farm products excl. grain, and food, down 33 carloads, to 16,161.
Intermodal containers and trailers, at 283,867 units, were up 3.4% annually, topping the weeks ending August 2 and July 26, at 279,724, and 283,250, respectively.
Through the first 32 weeks of 2025, AAR reported that U.S. rail carloads, at 7,055,736, are up 2.8% annually, and intermodal units, at 8,618,069, are up 4.6%, for the same period.
