Shipments on U.S. railroads were boosted by higher output by steelmakers in the latest week’s data from the Association of American Railroads.
U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 15 increased to 525,099 carloads and intermodal units, better by 2.4% from the same week a year ago. Commodity freight came to 233,261 carloads, up 1.9%, while intermodal volume of 291,838 containers and trailers improved by 2.7%, compared to 2025.
Metallic minerals and ores led eight of 10 carload commodity groups higher, up 19.2%. The sector has benefited from 50% Section 232 tariffs and tightened enforcement that have squeezed foreign supply, redirecting demand to domestic mills, which are running at higher utilization and adding capacity. Steady infrastructure-linked demand and stronger domestic pricing are reinforcing that effect.
Forest products had a bounceback week, up 10.5% y/y. While July housing starts were down 12.4% from June and off 13.5% from July 2025, building permits increased 5% from June and 3.1% for the year.
Motor vehicles and parts fell 13.2% for the week, while coal carloads were weaker by 5.7% y/y.
For the first 32 weeks of 2026, U.S. railroads hauled cumulative volume of 7,276,025 carloads, an increase of 2.7%, and 9,005,409 intermodal units, ahead 3.8%. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 32 weeks of 2026 grew 3.3% to 16,281,434 carloads and intermodal units y/y. The sector continues to benefit from import traffic buoyed by resilient consumer demand, and ongoing conversions of truckload freight amid upward rate movement there.
North American rail volume for the week on nine reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 335,920 carloads, up 4.7%, and 383,904 intermodal units, up 5.1%, compared with year-ago levels. Total combined traffic was 4.9% higher at 719,824 carloads and intermodal units. Volume of 22,343,160 carloads and intermodal units was better by 2.9% on 2025.
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