North American Freight-Rail Traffic Increases 2.8%, Despite Decline in Coal Shipments

North American Freight-Rail Traffic Rises 2.8%, Despite Decline in Coal Shipments

North American freight-rail traffic increased by 2.8% for the week ended Saturday, according to the latest data from the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Despite continued significant declines in coal shipments, the overall rail traffic saw growth.

For the week, carloads across the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads slipped by 1.1%, while intermodal units – which include shipping containers and trailers – rose by 6.7%. This increase was driven by double-digit gains in shipments of grain and chemicals, which helped offset the 14% drop in coal-related rail traffic.

For the first 24 weeks of the year, North American rail traffic is up 2%, indicating that railroads in the region continue to see steady demand for non-coal shipments, despite the ongoing challenges in the coal sector.