HOUSTON (ICIS news)--US chemical traffic rose 1.2% in the week ended 13 October, compared with the same period in 2006, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) said on Thursday.
Chemical railcar loadings for the week were counted at 29,183 compared with 28,826 in the same week of the previous year, the association said.
Total chemical railcar loadings in the year to date period through 13 October came to roughly 1.242m, or an increase of some 2.8% compared with 1.208m in the same period of 2006.
The AAR did not cite reasons for the increase in chemicals shipments.
Analysts consider rail shipment data to be a good early indicator of current chemical industry activity. Railroads transport more than 20% of chemicals produced in the US.
Railcar loadings for all 19 commodities tracked by the AAR were 336,565 in the week, representing a decrease of 1% compared with 339,880 in the same week of 2006.
The association said overall railcar loadings for the 19 commodity categories it tracks fell 3.1% year to date through 13 October compared with the same period of 2006, reaching 13.381m.
Chemical railcar loadings for the week were counted at 29,183 compared with 28,826 in the same week of the previous year, the association said.
Total chemical railcar loadings in the year to date period through 13 October came to roughly 1.242m, or an increase of some 2.8% compared with 1.208m in the same period of 2006.
The AAR did not cite reasons for the increase in chemicals shipments.
Analysts consider rail shipment data to be a good early indicator of current chemical industry activity. Railroads transport more than 20% of chemicals produced in the US.
Railcar loadings for all 19 commodities tracked by the AAR were 336,565 in the week, representing a decrease of 1% compared with 339,880 in the same week of 2006.
The association said overall railcar loadings for the 19 commodity categories it tracks fell 3.1% year to date through 13 October compared with the same period of 2006, reaching 13.381m.
