U.S. freight carload volume fell 3% during the week ending July 20, 2013, measured agains the comparable week in 2012, the Association of American Railroads reported Thursday, July 25. Countering that slump, as usual in recent months, was U.S. intermodal volume, up 2.8% compared with the same week last year.
Total U.S. rail traffic for the week was down 0.3% compared with the same week last year, AAR said.
Five of the 10 carload commodity groups AAR tracks gained ground compared with the same week in 2012, led once more by petroleum and petroleum products, up 28%. Commodities showing a decrease compared with the same week last year included grain, down 9.1%.
Canadian freight carload volume for the week ending July 20 mirrored its U.S. counterpart, down 3.2% compared with the same week last year. Canadian intermodal mimicked its U.S. counterpart and then some, gaining 5.5%. Mexican railroads logged gains in both categories, with Mexican freight carload volume up 5.3% for the week, and Mexican intermodal up 5%, measured against the comparable week in 2012.
Combined North American freight carload volume for the 29 weeks of 2013 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads was down 0.5% compared with the same point last year, while combined North American intermodal volume rose 3.5%.