Latest news with #AssociationofAmericanRailroads
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Intermodal weaker amid flat rail carloads
Total U.S. weekly rail traffic was flat for the latest week amid summer doldrums and weaker intermodal likely hit by falling demand on the trans-Pacific trade. Volume was 487,328 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.4% compared with the same week a year ago, according to data from the Association of American Railroads. Total freight for the week ending June 21 was 229,655 carloads, up 4.5% compared with the same week in 2024, while intermodal volume was 257,673 containers and trailers, down 2.9%. Falling container rates on the eastbound trans-Pacific reflect softening China-U.S. demand, analysts said, which likely could be undercutting intermodal rail volumes. Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase y/y. They included grain, up 22.9%; petroleum, 7.9%; and motor vehicles and parts, 7.4%. The non-metallic minerals category was weaker by 1.7%. For the first 25 weeks of this year, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 5,480,340 carloads, up 2.5% y/y, and 6,717,132 intermodal units, up 5.4%. Total combined U.S. traffic was 12,197,472 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 4.1%. North American rail volume for the week on nine reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 336,048 carloads, up 3.5%, and 343,777 intermodal units, down 0.8%. Total combined weekly rail traffic was 679,825 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.3%. North American rail volume for the first 25 weeks of 2025 was 16,860,018 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.8% compared with 2024. Weaker import demand may have taken a toll as Mexican railroads reported intermodal units fell 10.7% for the week. Subscribe to FreightWaves' Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox. Find more articles by Stuart Chirls partners connect rail camera network with telematics visibility Indiana port taps Louis Dreyfus to restart grain terminal House panel wrangles on rail safety technology Rail unions warn DOT rollbacks could jeopardize train safety The post Intermodal weaker amid flat rail carloads appeared first on FreightWaves. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sharp slowdown in intermodal rail a warning for H2: AAR
In May, U.S. rail freight volumes offered a complex picture of both resilience and caution within the industry. Total U.S. rail carloads increased by 5.9% compared to the previous year, according to a monthly update from the Association of American Railroads, marking a slight decline from April's growth of 6.2%. This upward trajectory was propelled by gains across 13 out of 20 carload commodity categories, suggesting a broad-based improvement in demand within various industrial sectors. Weekly carload originations hovered around an average of 224,000, just shy of the figures recorded in March and April, reflecting a stable flow of carloads across the nation. However, the intermodal sector, which encompasses containers and trailers, presented a more subdued picture. With marginal growth of just 0.6% year over year, intermodal traffic marked its weakest percentage increase in the past 21 months. This sluggish performance can be attributed to declines in port activities and a cooling global trade atmosphere, resulting in noticeably lower import volumes. The closing weeks of May saw an intermodal decline of approximately 1.5% to 1.8% from the previous year, hinting at caution from shippers and retailers possibly resulting in decreased inventory and import levels as consumer goods demand these varying freight dynamics, the AAR Freight Rail Index shed 3.2% in May from April, the most significant drop in five months, underscoring broad-based softness particularly in the economically sensitive intermodal categories. This decline suggests significant challenges facing consumer goods and intermediate materials traffic. Situating these freight dynamics within the broader economic context reveals a mixed picture. The U.S. labor market remains relatively robust, with 139,000 new jobs added in May. However, all of this growth occurred in health care and hospitality, sectors less immediately tied to freight rail demand. The unemployment rate steadied at 4.2%, yet indicators show the labor market may merely be maintaining its current level without indicating expansive growth. Consumer spending — a bellwether for economic health — grew a meager 0.1% in April, with a notable decrease in goods spending, signaling that households are becoming more frugal in response to persisting uncertainties. Moreover, the manufacturing sector continued its sluggish trend with the ISM Manufacturing PMI (Purchasing Managers Index) registering at 48.5%, a level below the threshold indicating growth. Ongoing stagnation in manufacturing output reflects a sector that remains idle with little sign of imminent expansion. Compounding these concerns, the service sector, a previous economic highlight, showed signs of faltering with the PMI slipping below 50%, signaling ahead to the second half of 2025, the rail industry faces uncertainty. Although strong carload growth in the coal, chemicals and grain sectors provides optimism, challenges remain. The persistence of high inventory levels, coupled with decreased consumer demand, is a key headwind that carriers must navigate. Manufacturing output and the housing market's stagnation further cloud prospects, AAR said. Subscribe to FreightWaves' Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox. Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here. Greenbrier: Elevating rail safety standards with state-of-the-art training Predicting the unpredictable for intermodal Regional Rail expands shortline roster, acquires Minnesota CommercialHow freight rail fueled a new luxury overnight train startup The post Sharp slowdown in intermodal rail a warning for H2: AAR appeared first on FreightWaves. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US rail traffic ekes out another gain over 2024
U.S. weekly rail traffic remained above 2024 levels for the week that ended on Saturday — but barely. According to the Association of American Railroads, traffic for the week was 488,709 carloads and intermodal units, a 0.7% gain over the same week in 2024. It marked the 13th consecutive week in which traffic has been above year-ago figures, but the smallest gain during that period. The overall figure includes 226,091 carloads, up 3.8%, and 262,618 containers and trailers, a decrease of 1.8% compared to the corresponding week in 2024. Gainers and decliners were evenly split for the week. Coal shipments topped all commodity increases, up 12.1%, followed by motor vehicles and parts, 4.1%, and nonmetallic minerals, 3.5%Through 21 weeks, 2025 volume is 10,280,643 carloads and intermodal units, a 4.9% gain over the same period in 2024. That includes 4,580,934 carloads, up 2.3%, and 5,699,709 intermodal units, up 4.9%. North American traffic for the week, as reported by nine U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads, was 675,811 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.8% from the same week a year ago. That included 330,466 carloads, up 4.5%, and 345,345 containers and trailers, down 0.8%. The year-to-date volume for North America is 14,173,143 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.3% from the first 21 weeks of 2024. That includes 3,407,247 carloads and intermodal units in Canada, a gain of 0.7%, and 485,523 carloads and intermodal units in Mexico, a decrease of 10.1%. Subscribe to FreightWaves' Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your more articles by Stuart Chirls railroad has 100 extra locomotives ready to handle a container surge Baun joins railcar builder Greenbrier as chief commercial officer Norfolk Southern expands short line interchange improvement program Rail agenda steams up as short lines blitz Congress The post US rail traffic ekes out another gain over 2024 appeared first on FreightWaves.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Coal extends surprising lead in weekly US rail traffic
Carload traffic provided most of the growth as U.S. weekly rail traffic remained above 2024 levels for the week that ended on Saturday. Figures from the Association of American Railroads show traffic for the week totaled 490,775 carloads and intermodal units, a 3.4% increase over the same week a year ago. That figure included 229,226 carloads, up 7.1% over the corresponding week in 2024, and 261,549 containers and trailers, a 0.3% increase. Through 20 weeks, U.S. volume of 9,791,934 carloads and intermodal units represents a 5.1% increase over the same period in 2024. That includes 4,354,834 carloads, up 2.2%, and 5,437,091 intermodal units, up 7.5%. Coal, which has reversed a longtime decline, maintained its lead among commodities, up 17.5% for the week and 6.5% year to date, benefiting from cold outbreaks this winter and rising exports that are projected to reach 95 million short tons (MMst) this year, up from 91 MMst in 2024, mostly on record Asia demand, according to the U.S. Energy Information American traffic for the week, as reported by nine U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads, was 687,953 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.8% from the same week in 2024. That includes 338,480 carloads, up 5.9%, and 349,473 intermodal units, up 1.9%. The year-to-date North American volume is 13,497,647 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.3% from the first 20 weeks of 2024. That includes 3,247,385 carloads and intermodal units in Canada, a gain of 0.6%, and 458,328 carloads and intermodal units in Mexico, a decline of 11.2%. (Chart: AAR)Subscribe to FreightWaves' Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox.J.B. Hunt and Eastern and Canadian railways see steady intermodal volume For first time since 1998, LA-Long Beach ports bid harbor rail services Advisory team will drive overhaul of US railroad regulator ITS Logistics report shows surge stressing US rail ramps after tariffs slashedThe post Coal extends surprising lead in weekly US rail traffic appeared first on FreightWaves.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Coal, grain keep US rail freight ahead of 2024 levels
Carload and intermodal traffic posted gains as weekly U.S. rail traffic remains ahead of 2024 levels, according to the Association of American Railroads. Statistics for the week ending May 10 show overall U.S. volume of 495,552 carloads and intermodal units, a 5.7% increase over the same week a year earlier. That includes 222,238 carloads, a 6.2% increase over the corresponding week in 2024, and 273,314 containers and trailers, up 5.4%. Weekly gainers were led by coal, up 21%, and grain, up 20%. Through 19 weeks, the cumulative volume of 9,301,159 carloads and intermodal units is running 5.2% ahead of the same period in 2024. That figure includes 4,125,617 carloads, up 2% from the first 19 weeks of 2024, and 5,175,542 intermodal units, up 7.9%. Petroleum, metals and nonmetallic minerals were weaker year on year, which may reflect a tempered economic outlook for development and manufacturing. North American volume for the week, from nine reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads, included 695,745 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 5.4%. Included in that total are 332,095 carloads, up 4.9% over the same week a year ago, and 363,279 intermodal units, up 5.9%. The 19-week North American total of 12,833,256 carloads and intermodal units is an increase of 3.5% over the same period in 2024. That includes 3,077,297 carloads and intermodal units in Canada, a gain of 0.4%, and 454,800 carloads and intermodal units in Mexico, a drop of 7.9%. Subscribe to FreightWaves' Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your lost out on $1 million a day in Q1 revenue amid hurricane, tunnel work Trump's FRA nominee vows to uphold 2-person train crews Union Pacific President Whited stepping down Layoffs hit BNSF tech staff amid restructuring The post Coal, grain keep US rail freight ahead of 2024 levels appeared first on FreightWaves.
