AAR: U.S. rail traffic growth continues in April

Combined United States carload and intermodal cargo volumes increased 5.2 percent in April 2017, the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year growth, according to data from the Association of American Railroads (AAR).    United States-based freight railroads saw shipment volumes increase for the sixth consecutive month in April 2017 after several months of year-over-year declines, according to data from the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
   Total carload and intermodal traffic for the month rose 5.2 percent from the previous March to 2.08 million units following increases of 5.5 percent in March, 4.2 percent in February, 0.5 percent in January, 6.9 percent in December 2016 and 1.1 percent in November.
   The November increase in rail traffic followed several months of year-over-year declines, as volumes of traditional rail commodities like coal and crude oil plummeted last year amid stricter EPA regulations and low prices for alternatives like natural gas.
   Carload traffic in April grew 8.4 percent to 1.02 million carloads, while intermodal increased 2.3 percent to 1.05 million containers and trailers, compared with the same 2016 period.
   Ten of the 20 carload commodity categories tracked by AAR reported year-over-year growth during the month, including coal, up 26.7 percent; grain, up 18.7 percent; and crushed stone, sand and gravel, up 12.9 percent. Commodities that posted declines for the month included petroleum and petroleum products, down 13.1 percent; motor vehicles and parts, down 9.1 percent; and metallic ores, down 8.4 percent from April 2016.
   AAR noted that excluding coal, total carload volumes grew just 2 percent year-over-year in April.
   Through the first four months of 2017, total U.S. rail traffic has grown 3.9 percent to 8.79 million carloads and intermodal units compared with the prior-year period.
   “U.S. grain car loadings during April 2017 were the highest since 2011, with rail grain deliveries to ports since the first of the year running 19 percent ahead of 2016,” AAR Senior Vice President of Policy and Economics John T. Gray said in a statement. “These agricultural exports improve our balance of trade and strengthen the farm economy.
   “Sales of motor vehicles fell for the second straight month in April as financing companies have reportedly hit the brakes, tightening lending standards following the satisfaction of the pent-up demand coming out of the 2009 recession,” he added. “As a result, rail shipments of motor vehicles and parts fell again in April. We are hopeful that the upcoming summer buying season will clear dealer inventories and drive up demand for railroads to deliver new vehicles.”