Weekly coal carloads increased substantially in both the US and Canada for the week ending April 19, compared to a year ago, as warmer weather and increased production sparked renewed efforts to restock utilities with low stockpiles.
US originations totaled 113,707 carloads, down 1.5% from the prior week but up 6.6% from the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported Thursday.
On a year-on-year basis, weekly US coal carloads have increased for six straight weeks, which is the first time that has happened since at least the start of 2012.
BNSF Railway, Union Pacific and CSX continue to show year-on-year increases, while Norfolk Southern's volumes remain down.
Year to date, coal carloads originated on US railroads total roughly 1.8 million, up 0.8% compared with the year-ago period, according to the AAR's weekly rail traffic report. The year-to-date total is down 5.8% compared with 2012.
The Canadian railroads, including the US operations of Canadian National and Canadian Pacific, originated 10,235 coal carloads during the week, up 9% from the prior week and up 15.2% from the year-ago week, according to the AAR.
The total for the week ending April 19 is the highest amount posted this year, and the highest since the week ending September 21, 2013.
For the year, coal carloads originated by the Canadian railroads total 141,162, down 3.7% from last year.
US coal production during the week ending April 19 totaled 19 million st, according to estimates released Thursday by the US Energy Information Administration. The estimate is up 0.5% from last week and up 4.7% from the year-ago week.
For the week ending April 19, the four largest US railroads reported handling (which includes originations and interchange) the following weekly coal and coke carloads:
BNSF reported 43,634 weekly coal carloads, up 4.2% from the prior week and up 12.6% from the year-ago week. For the year, the railroad's coal carloads total 697,490, up 4.9% compared with 2013.
Union Pacific reported 31,071 weekly coal carloads, down 1.1% from the prior week and up 9.7% from last year. Year-to-date coal carloads total 523,039, up 7% from last year.
CSX reported 24,367 weekly coal carloads, down 6% from the prior week and up 7.7% from last year. For the year, coal carloads total 348,360, up 2.5%.
Norfolk Southern reported 24,716 weekly coal carloads, down 12.5% from the prior week and down 4.9% from 2013. For the year, coal carloads total 367,975, down 11.1% from last year.
Weekly US carload originations of coke, which includes petroleum coke and coke from coal, totaled 3,969 for the week ending April 19, up 1.2% from last year, according to the AAR. Year-to-date coke carloads total 58,152, down 1.8% from last year.
BNSF reported 475 coke carloads during the week, down 31.4% from last year. Year-to-date coke carloads total 8,426, down 8.8% from last year.
Union Pacific reported 526 weekly coke carloads, down 4% from the year-ago week. For the year, coke carloads total 7,576, up 6% from last year.
CSX reported 1,112 weekly coke carloads, down 21% from the year-ago week. For the year, coke carloads total 17,448, down 20.1%.
Norfolk Southern reported 1,320 weekly coke carloads, up 22.7% from the year-ago week. For the year, coke carloads total 17,539, up 17.5%.
