Intermodal weaker amid flat rail carloads

Total freight for the week ending June 21 was 229,655 carloads, up 4.5% compared with the same week in 2024, while intermodal volume was 257,673 containers and trailers, down 2.9%.

Falling container rates on the eastbound trans-Pacific reflect softening China-U.S. demand, analysts said, which likely could be undercutting intermodal rail volumes.  

Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase y/y. They included grain, up 22.9%; petroleum, 7.9%; and motor vehicles and parts, 7.4%.

The non-metallic minerals category was weaker by 1.7%. 

For the first 25 weeks of this year, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 5,480,340 carloads, up 2.5% y/y, and 6,717,132 intermodal units, up 5.4%.

Total combined U.S. traffic was 12,197,472 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 4.1%.

North American rail volume for the week on nine reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 336,048 carloads, up 3.5%, and 343,777 intermodal units, down 0.8%. Total combined weekly rail traffic was 679,825 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.3%. North American rail volume for the first 25 weeks of 2025 was 16,860,018 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.8% compared with 2024.

Weaker import demand may have taken a toll as Mexican railroads reported intermodal units fell 10.7% for the week.

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Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here.

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