In the week to May 23, chemical railcar traffic in North America deepened decline, according to data from the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Volume slumped by 1.9% week-on-week to a total of 40,616 carloads, and by 15.8% year-over-year.
On a four-week basis, the volume dropped by 12.8% year-on-year, from the 12.2% fall in the previous week. Year to date, the decline was 3.1% year-on-year and deepening the deficits of 2.4%.
In the US, chemical railcar traffic slumped by 14.4% year-on-year but still up by 0.5% week-on-week to 28,531 carloads. Year to date, the traffic edged down by 3.0%.
In Canada, a bigger decrease was posted at 20.7% year-on-year and 8.7% week-on-week to 11,318 carloads. Year to date, the country’s chemical railcar traffic dipped by 3.3%.
Mexico, on the other hand, posted a 7.6% year-on-year increase in chemical railcar traffic and 14.4% weekly gain. Year to date traffic, however, has plunged by 3.9%.
