US rail transport of petroleum and petroleum products in the week ended Saturday totaled 13,203 cars, up 19.7% from the corresponding week in 2012, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday.
In the first 28 weeks of 2013, petroleum product shipments totaled 382,190 carloads, 46.2% above the same period of 2012, the group said.
US railroads saw a 1.3% year-on-year decrease in total carloads originated in the week that ended Saturday, with intermodal volumes rising 0.9%, AAR said. Intermodal traffic involves movement by more than one mode of transport -- rail, ship and truck.
In the year to date, total US rail carloads originated are up 0.8%, with intermodal volume up 3.5%.
Rail traffic is seen as a useful gauge of the health of the US economy.
In the most recent week, total Canadian petroleum carloads were up 4.7% and total Mexican petroleum carloads fell 11% from the corresponding week of 2012.
In the first 28 weeks of the year, Canadian petroleum carloads were 22.2% higher and Mexico originated 11.5% more petroleum carloads, AAR said.
