Intermodal container volumes ended 2012 at a record high with 13.1 million moves, surpassing the previous year by 5.9 percent and the previous benchmark year of 2007 by 9.8 percent, according to the Intermodal Association of North America’s Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics report. Total intermodal shipments closed 2012 with a 4 percent gain while growth in Q4 halved this annual total at 2 percent.
Fourth Quarter 2012 Intermodal Volume Comparisons
|
Equipment Type |
2011 |
2012 |
Change |
|
Trailers |
432,623 |
379,698 |
-12.2% |
|
Domestic Containers |
1,307,165 |
1,444,919 |
+10.5% |
|
All Domestic Equipment |
1,739,788 |
1,824,617 |
+4.9% |
|
ISO Containers |
1,860,393 |
1,846,635 |
-0.7% |
|
Total |
3,600,181 |
3,671,252 |
+2.0% |
Overall 2012 Intermodal Volume Comparisons
|
Equipment Type |
2011 |
2012 |
Change |
|
Trailers |
1,693,782 |
1,523,556 |
-10.1% |
|
Domestic Containers |
4,926,185 |
5,528,184 |
+12.2% |
|
All Domestic Equipment |
6,619,967 |
7,051,740 |
+6.5% |
|
ISO Containers |
7,451,558 |
7,580,488 |
+1.7% |
|
Total |
14,071,525 |
14,632,228 |
+4.0% |
For the third straight year, domestic containers were the driving factor with volumes topping five million for the first time reflecting a growth rate of 12.2 percent over 2011activity. Forty-eight (48) foot and 53-foot domestic boxes accounted for 38 percent of all container movements for the year. Despite some year-end softening, international volumes continued to have the largest share of intermodal loadings at 52 percent of the total.
