For the week ending Dec. 30, U.S. Class I railroads originated 15,713 grain carloads, down 30% from the previous week, 20% from last year, and 18% from the 3-year average.
Weekly grain carloadings typically decrease during the end-of-year holiday week, but they were at their lowest level in five years, compared to 13,305 carloadings in 2012 when grain production was reduced following the severe drought.
In addition to grain, the Association of American Railroads reported that weekly carloadings across all other commodity categories were down compared to the same week last year
