United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending July 11, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Rail carloads, at 223,040, saw a slight 0.4% annual decrease, topping the week ending July 4, which was likely impacted by the timing of the July 4 holiday, at 212,691, and trailed the week ending June 27, at 232,408.
AAR reported that eight of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: metallic ores and metals, up 1,627 carloads, to 21,857; nonmetallic minerals, up 1,263 carloads, to 32,823; and farm products excl. grain, and food, up 835 carloads, to 18,093. Commodity groups posting annual declines were: coal, down 4,713 carloads, to 53,527; and grain, down 1,197 carloads, to 21,446.
Intermodal containers and trailers, at 280,485 units, rose 3.0% annually, topping the week ending July 4, at 269,340 units, and trailing the week ending June 27, at 293,060 units.
Through the first 27 weeks of 2026, AAR reported that U.S. rail carloads, at 6,117,342, were up 3.1% annually, and intermodal units, at 7,534,897, are up 3.6% annually, for the same period.
