By Olivia Kalb

April 8, 2021 -  Weekly US coal carload originations totaled 59,661, down 3% from the previous week and up 3% from the year-ago week, Association of American Railroads data said April 7.

Coal carloads were at a six-week low and took up 11.6% of all weekly originations, the smallest percentage in eight weeks.

The five-week average for the thirteenth week of the year is 69,454, leaving the most recent week at a 14.1% deficit. Through the year so far, carloads were down 5.5% compared to the year-ago period.

Canadian coal carload originations total 6,753, down 11.8% week on week and down 4.9% year on year. Over 13 weeks, carloads were up 8.9% compared to the year-ago period.

Coal carloads from the four major US Class I railroads totaled 63,060, up 2.3% week on week. To date, carloads were 877,617, down 5.6% year on year.

BNSF coal carloads totaled 28,663, up 1.1% from the previous week and up 14.1% from the year-ago week. Over 13 weeks, carloads declined 10.9% from the year-ago period.

Carloads from Union Pacific totaled 9,757, down 17.7% from the week before and down 26.7% year on year. Compared to the year-ago period, carloads were down 15.7% through the year so far.

CSX carloads dropped 11.1% from the previous week to 11,785. Year on year, they rose 2.2%. To date, carloads were down 3.4% compared to the year-ago period.

Norfolk Southern carloads totaled 12,855, up 2.2% from the week before and up 15.3% from the year-ago week. Coal carloads were up 3.2% year on year over 13 weeks.