Rail on a roll as ag, metals, chemicals lead traffic
Rail freight posted another positive week as seven out of 10 categories improved from a year ago. The post Rail on a roll as ag, metals, chemicals lead traffic appeared first on FreightWaves.
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Rail traffic continued its recent strong performance as 511,216 carloads and intermodal units were 4. 2% ahead of the same week a year ago. Shipments for the week ending May 16 totaled 230,497 carloads, up 0. 6% y/y, the Association of American Railroads said, while weekly intermodal volume reached 280,719 containers and trailers, better by 7.
3% compared to 2025. Seven of 10 carload commodities tracked by AAR improved y/y. Grain continued its banner run, 14. 5%, followed by petroleum and petroleum products, 9. 8%. Forest products jumped up for the first time, as volume improved 14. 5%. A frozen residential housing market dragged the category since the beginning of the year.
Losers included coal, 6. 2%, and nonmetallic minerals, 0. 4%. (Chart: AAR) Through the first 19 weeks of 2026, U. S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 4,297,732 carloads, up 3. 4%, and 5,262,810 intermodal containers and trailers, up 0. 9%. Total combined U. S. traffic was 9,560,542 carloads and intermodal units, better by 2% y/y.
North American rail volume for the week on nine reporting U. S. , Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 341,822 carloads, up 1. 6% from the same week a year ago. Intermodal came to 374,372 units, up 6. 7%. Total combined traffic was 716,194 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 4. 2%.
Volume for the first 19 weeks of 2026 was 13,154,868 carloads and intermodal units, up 1. 9%. Subscribe to FreightWaves’ Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox. Read more articles by Stuart Chirls here.
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This briefing is based on reporting from Freightwaves. Use the original post for full primary-source context.
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