United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending August 23, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Rail carloads, at 229,783, eked out a 0.6% annual increase, topping the weeks ending August 16 and August 9, at 228,884, and 227,327, respectively.
AAR reported that four of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: grain, up 1,723 carloads, to 20,389; motor vehicles and parts, up 1,001 carloads, to 17,681; and farm products excl. grain, and food, up 640 carloads, to 16,140. Commodity groups posting annual declines included: petroleum and petroleum products, down 1,068 carloads, to 9,769; coal, down 370 carloads, to 62,043; and miscellaneous carloads, down 249 carloads, to 9,100.
Intermodal containers and trailers, at 282,500 units, fell 1.9% compared to the same week a year ago, trailing the weeks ending August 16 and August 9, at 284,066, and 283,867.
Through the first 34 weeks of 2025, AAR reported that U.S. rail carloads, at 7,514,403, are up 2.6% annually, and intermodal units, at 9,184,705, are up 4.2% annually.
