IANA: Q3 intermodal volumes up 3.4%

Domestic and international container volumes rose, but trailer volumes decreased during the third quarter of 2015 compared with the same 2014 period, according to the Intermodal Association of North America.    Intermodal volumes totaled 4,356,860 units in the third quarter, a 3.4 percent increase from the same 2014 period, according to the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA).
   The group said movements of:

• ISO containers, used primarily for international transport, were 2,223,127 units in the third quarter, up 4 percent;
• Domestic containers were 1,734,863 units, up 2.7 percent;
• And trailers were 398,870 units, down 3.1 percent.

   “The international market segment normalized this quarter after dealing with the lingering effects of Q1 port congestion that were still felt during the second quarter,” said Joni Casey, president and CEO of IANA. “Overall we are seeing international container trends approaching pre-recession levels and domestic volume gains returning to numbers that are comparable to international.”
   “The seven highest-density trade corridors, accounting for 66 percent of total intermodal volume, rose 3.7% this quarter, exceeding the industry average,” said IANA. “Growth rates for each individual corridor varied widely. The intra-Southeast corridor, positively affected by stronger imports and rising market share over trucking, experienced gains of over 20 percent. Meanwhile, the South Central-Southwest corridor volumes decreased by 5.9 percent, with international particularly affected.”
   “Regional traffic growth was overall positive in Q3, despite significant losses in the South Central region and slight declines in Western Canada. The South Central area’s 9.2 percent decline is largely the result of a fall in international shipments. The Northwest and Southeast regions countered with substantial volume increases in Q3, rising 9.9 and 9.1 percent, respectively,” the association added.