United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending May 3, saw annual gains, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Rail carloads, at 225,641, increased 5.6% annually, trailing the week ending April 26, at 233,411, and topping the week ending April 19, at 224,436.

AAR reported that five of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: coal, up 11,602 carloads, to 58,614; chemicals, up 1,965 carloads, to 34,376; and farm products excl. grain, and food, up 1,386 carloads, to 16,772. Commodity groups posting annual declines included: nonmetallic minerals, down 1,999 carloads, to 30,919; metallic ores and metals, down 1,085 carloads, to 19,231; and petroleum and petroleum products, down 1,032 carloads, to 9,607.

Weekly intermodal containers and trailers, at 273,052, posted a 9.4% annual increase, topping the weeks ending April 26 and April 19, at 268,694, and 271,617, respectively.

Through the first 18 weeks of 2025, AAR reported that U.S. rail carloads, at 3,903,379, increased 1.8% annually, and intermodal units, at 4,902,228, increased 8.1% annually.