Econintersect: Week 35 of 2013 ending 31 August shows same week total rail traffic (from same week one year ago) was mixed according to data released by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Railcar count is down, and intermodal count is up.
- Weekly overall data is up, and up even stronger ignoring coal and grain;
- Four week rolling average is improving, and better than the 4 week rolling average one year ago;
- 13 week rolling average is improving, and better than the 13 week rolling average one year ago;
- 52 week rolling average is improving, and better than the 52 week rolling average one year ago.
This is the sixth week of improving data.
A summary of the data:
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported increased total U.S. rail traffic for the month of August 2013, with intermodal setting a new record and carload volume increasing overall compared with August 2012.
Intermodal traffic in August 2013 totaled 1,031,179 containers and trailers, up 4.4 percent (43,398 units) compared with August 2012. The weekly average of 257,795 units in August 2013 was the highest weekly average for any month in history. Carloads originated in August totaled 1,178,619, up 0.5 percent or 5,285 carloads compared with the same month last year.
Twelve of the 20 commodity categories tracked by the AAR each month saw year-over-year carload increases in August 2013 over the same month last year. Commodities with the biggest carload increases in August included petroleum and petroleum products, up 18.5 percent or 8,148 carloads; crushed stone, gravel and sand, up 9.3 percent or 7,645 carloads; motor vehicles and parts, up 7.7 percent or 4,844 carloads; stone, clay, and glass products, up 10.1 percent or 3,250 carloads; and waste and nonferrous scrap, up 24.0 percent or 2,860 carloads.
Commodity categories with carload declines last month included coal, down 2.0 percent or 9,915 carloads from August 2012; and grain, down 9.0 percent or 6,570 carloads.
Excluding coal and grain, total U.S. carloads were up 3.6 percent, or 21,770 carloads, in August 2013 compared with August 2012.
“In terms of average weekly volumes, August was the best intermodal month in history for both U.S. and Canadian railroads,” said AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray. “Because the fall is typically the peak season for intermodal traffic, it wouldn’t be surprising to see new records set in September and October. Intermodal’s strength is a testament to the massive private investments railroads have made in their intermodal operations and the tremendous effort they’ve put forth in improving the reliability, responsiveness, and cost effectiveness of their intermodal service.”
AAR today also reported increased rail traffic for the week ending August 31, 2013. U.S. railroads originated 302,026 carloads last week, up 3.1 percent compared with the same week last year, while intermodal volume for the week totaled 259,672 units, up 4.2 percent compared with the same week last year. Total U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 31 was 561,698 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.6 percent compared with the same week last year.
Six of the 10 carload commodity groups tracked on a weekly basis posted increases compared with the same week in 2012, including petroleum and petroleum products, up 22.5 percent; and motor vehicles and parts, up 12.8 percent. The groups showing a decrease in weekly traffic included metallic ores and metals, down 4.4 percent; and grain, down 0.6 percent.
For the first 35 weeks of 2013, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 9,780,754 carloads, down 1.1 percent from the same point last year, and 8,520,242 intermodal units, up 3.6 percent from last year. Total U.S. traffic for the first 35 weeks of 2013 was 18,300,996 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.0 percent from last year.
USA coal production is up 4.0% same week year-over-year, has become a neutral to positive dynamic on rail.
| This Week | Carloads | Intermodal | Total |
| This week Year-over-Year | 3.1% | 4.2% | 3.6% |
| Ignoring coal and grain | 3.6% | ||
| Year Cumulative to Date | -1.1% | 3.6% | 1.0% |
[click on graph below to enlarge]
Current Rail Chart
/images/z rail1.png
From EIA.gov:
For the week ended August 31, 2013:
Source: AAR
