The number of carloads transporting chemicals (which includes petrochemicals and petrochemical derivatives, as well as chemicals not derived from petroleum or natural gas) hit 1.05 million in the first 34 weeks of 2016, up 1.9% from last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ latest weekly traffic report.
Total carloads have fallen 11.3% this year, with only grain (4.3%) and motor vehicles and parts (2.7%) also enjoying growth. The six other major categories all fell, led by coal (down 27.2% for the year to date) and petroleum and refined-petroleum products (22.2%).
BNSF has emerged as the biggest beneficiary of chemicals growth, transporting 18,388 (or 6.83%) more carloads for the year to date. Excluding the two Canadian Class I railroads (whose U.S. operations are counted under Canadian rail traffic), the four remaining Class I railroads have all transported less chemicals this year than they did last year.
Union Pacific (UP), the largest transporter of chemicals, has seen the quantity of chemicals it transports slip by 2.3% this year. BNSF and UP hold a virtual duopoly over the western half of the United States, while CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern dominate the east.
