U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes see annual declines, for week ending October 25, reports AAR

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending October 25, saw annual declines, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Rail carloads, at 226,748, fell 0.9% annually, topping the weeks ending October 18 and October 11, at 224,244, and 224,562, respectively.

AAR reported that five of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: metallic ores and metals, up 1,470 carloads, to 19,559; nonmetallic minerals, up 837 carloads, to 32,940; and miscellaneous carloads, up 584 carloads, to 9,056. Commodity groups posting annual declines included motor vehicles and parts, down 1,895 carloads, to 14,556; coal, down 1,470 carloads, to 58,652; and grain, down 1,125 carloads, to 23,031.

Intermodal containers and trailers, at 272,940 units, were off 6.1% annually, trailing the weeks ending October 18 and October 11, at 273,610, and 273,900, respectively.

Through the first 43 weeks of 2025, AAR reported that U.S. rail carloads, at 9,552,801, are up 9.1% annually, and intermodal units, at 11672,717, are up 3.0% annually.