Jan 22, 2025

Intermodal Market Experiences Robust Growth in Early 2025

The intermodal market continues its impressive peak into the early months of 2025, defying typical seasonal trends with a notable surge in volume, as observed in the third week of January. According to Yahoo Finance, year-over-year growth has soared to 27%, fueled by significant contributions from high Chinese export rates, robust American consumer demand, and preemptive inventory boosts ahead of potential tariff implementations.

IndexBox data further supports these findings, reporting that rail intermodal volumes are advancing at an unprecedented rate, with CPKC, Union Pacific, and Canadian National spearheading the expansion. CPKC's intermodal volume saw a 38% increase, while Union Pacific and Canadian National followed closely with growth figures of 36% and 31%, respectively, compared to the same period last year. Additionally, BNSF experienced a 29% uptick, CSX reported a 28% increase, and Norfolk Southern saw a 20% increase.

Ocean container volumes to the United States have similarly recovered robustly in January 2025, hinting at a broader, sustained recovery pattern. The railroads are strategically adjusting to this surge by striving to maintain their current workforce numbers, with the Big Four U.S. railroads collectively seeing a slight 2% year-over-year decrease in total headcount. This strategic labor management helps enhance operational capacity without necessarily expanding the workforce, as highlighted in recent discussions by industry leaders like Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena.

Despite these advances, the railroad industry acknowledges potential risks that might impede growth, such as capacity limitations and freight price volatility. However, their adaptive strategies, focused on optimizing efficiency, could effectively counter these uncertainties. Meanwhile, diversified commodity growth provides an added safety net, with notable increases in grain, petroleum products, and chemicals reported so far this year.

As the intermodal market progresses through what is typically a low period in the rail industry, its resilience demonstrates a shift in shippers' inventory strategies and highlights the evolving dynamics of the logistics sector. The coming months will reveal if this enduring strength can withstand the usual winter trough before gearing up for its customary late-fall peak.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform

1. INTRODUCTION

Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business
1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND AI PLATFORM
3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A Quick Overview of Market Performance
1. KEY FINDINGS
2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
3. MARKET OVERVIEW

Understanding the Current State of The Market and Its Prospects
1. MARKET SIZE
2. CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY
3. MARKET FORECAST TO 2030
4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCT

Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCT
4. MOST TRADED PRODUCT
5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCT FOR EXPORT
5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
3. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
4. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Exports
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
7. GLOBAL PRODUCTION

The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry
1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE
2. PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY
8. GLOBAL IMPORTS
The Largest Importers on The Market and How They Succeed
1. IMPORTS FROM 2012–2024
2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY
3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY
9. GLOBAL EXPORTS
The Largest Exporters on The Market and How They Succeed
1. EXPORTS FROM 2012–2024
2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY
3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY
10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
11. COUNTRY PROFILES

The Largest Markets And Their Profiles
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
- United States
- China
- Japan
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- France
- Brazil
- Italy
- Russian Federation
- India
- Canada
- Australia
- Republic of Korea
- Spain
- Mexico
- Indonesia
- Netherlands
- Turkey
- Saudi Arabia
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Nigeria
- Poland
- Belgium
- Argentina
- Norway
- Austria
- Thailand
- United Arab Emirates
- Colombia
- Denmark
- South Africa
- Malaysia
- Israel
- Singapore
- Egypt
- Philippines
- Finland
- Chile
- Ireland
- Pakistan
- Greece
- Portugal
- Kazakhstan
- Algeria
- Czech Republic
- Qatar
- Peru
- Romania
- Vietnam
LIST OF TABLES
1. Key Findings In 2024
2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
3. Market Value, 2012–2024
4. Per Capita Consumption, By Country, 2018–2024
5. Production, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
6. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
7. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
8. Import Prices, By Country Of Destination, 2012–2024
9. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
10. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
11. Export Prices, By Country Of Origin, 2012–2024
LIST OF FIGURES
1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
2. Market Value, 2012–2024
3. Consumption, By Country, 2024
4. Market Volume Forecast to 2030
5. Market Value Forecast to 2030
6. Products: Market Size And Growth, By Type
7. Products: Average Per Capita Consumption, By Type
8. Products: Exports And Growth, By Type
9. Products: Export Prices And Growth, By Type
10. Production Volume And Growth
11. Exports And Growth
12. Export Prices And Growth
13. Market Size And Growth
14. Per Capita Consumption
15. Imports And Growth
16. Import Prices
17. Production, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
18. Production, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
19. Production, By Country, 2024
20. Production, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
21. Imports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
22. Imports, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
23. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
24. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
25. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
26. Import Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
27. Exports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
28. Exports, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
29. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
30. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
31. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
32. Export Prices, 2012–2024