Freight - Rail

2021

Freight rail tonnage increased by 2.3% in 2021

Railroads in Washington state transported 130 million tons of freight in 2021 (the most recent available data year), a 2.3% increase from the 127 million tons transported in 2020. The overall growth was driven by an increase in farm products, coal and miscellaneous mixed shipments.

The amount of inbound rail freight (freight that originated outside Washington and was terminated at a destination within the state) decreased by 0.8% from 68.2 million tons in 2020 to 67.7 million tons in 2021.

Inbound freight made up 52% of all statewide rail freight in 2021. Freight rail shipments passing through Washington (with both origin and destination outside the state) accounted for 30.7% (40 million tons) of total rail freight tonnage, compared to 37.2 million tons in 2020. Approximately 15.9 million tons of outbound rail freight (which had an in-state origin and an out-of-state destination) was transported in Washington state in 2021, making up 12.2% of total freight rail tonnage. The remaining 5.1% (6.6 million tons) of rail freight was intrastate, with both origin and destination inside Washington.

Farm products shipped by rail increased 5.3% in 2021

In 2021, 43.5 million tons of farm products (such as soybeans, corn, wheat and dried peas) were shipped by rail in Washington state, a 5.3% increase from the 41.3 million tons shipped in 2020. This was mainly driven by the amount of corn shipped by rail, which was up 22.2% from 13.1 million tons in 2020 to 16 million tons in 2021. The increase in corn shipments was associated with more corn originating in the Midwest. The jump in corn exports was largely due to an increased demand from China and diminished competition in other markets such as Ukraine and Brazil.

Soybean shipments by rail increased 4.9% from 14.1 million tons in 2020 to 14.8 million tons in 2021. This was driven largely by higher demand from China alongside increased exports to both Mexico and Japan. The amount of wheat shipped by rail decreased 10.6% from 10.7 million tons in 2020 to 9.6 million tons in 2021.

Less hazardous material shipped by rail in 2021 than in 2020

Railroad shipments of hazardous materials decreased by 6.7% in 2021 with 18.6 million tons compared to 20 million tons in 2020. Shipments of hazardous materials —such as petroleum crude oil, ethyl alcohol, asphalt, propane gas and petroleum/shale oil declined largely due to less inbound traffic from North Dakota to Washington. Rail shipments of coal increased by 5.8% from 13.9 million tons in 2020 to 14.7 million tons in 2021.

2020

Freight rail tonnage decreases by 1.4% in 2020

Railroads in Washington state transported 127 million tons of freight in 2020, a 1.4% decrease from the 129 million tons transported in 2019. The overall decrease was driven by a drop in coal shipments.

The amount of inbound rail freight (freight that originated outside Washington and was terminated at a destination within the state) increased 1.9% from 66.9 million tons in 2019 to 68.2 million tons in 2020.

Inbound freight made up 53.6% of all statewide rail freight in 2020. Freight rail shipments passing through Washington (with both origin and destination outside the state) accounted for 29.2% (37.2 million tons) of total rail freight tonnage, compared to 38.2 million tons in 2019. Approximately 15.6 million tons of outbound rail freight (which had an in-state origin and an out-of-state destination) was transported in Washington state in 2020, making up 12.2% of total freight rail tonnage. The remaining 4.9% (6.3 million tons) of rail freight was intrastate, with both origin and destination inside Washington.

Farm products shipped by rail increased 18% in 2020

In 2020, 41.3 million tons of farm products (such as soybeans, corn, wheat and dried peas) were shipped by rail in Washington state, an 18% increase from the 35.0 million tons shipped in 2019. This was mainly driven by the amount of corn shipped by rail, which was up 37.5% from 9.5 million tons in 2019 to 13 million tons in 2020. The increase in corn shipments was associated with more corn originating in the Midwest. The jump in corn exports was largely due to a higher demand from China and competitive U.S. prices in the global market. Soybean shipments by rail increased 18.7% from 11.9 million tons in 2019 to 14.1 million tons in 2020. This was driven largely by higher demand from China. The amount of wheat shipped by rail remained steady at around 10.7 million tons, increasing 0.6% from 2019 to 2020.

Less hazardous material shipped by rail in 2020 than in 2019

Railroad shipments of hazardous materials decreased by 8.8% in 2020 with 20 million tons compared to 21.9 million tons in 2019. Shipments of hazardous materials—such as petroleum crude oil, ethyl alcohol, asphalt, propane gas and petroleum/shale oil—declined largely due to less inbound traffic from North Dakota and Alberta, Canada to Washington. Rail shipments of coal decreased by 26.3%, going from 18.8 million tons in 2019 to 13.9 million tons in 2020, primarily because there were fewer coal shipments from Wyoming to Washington and Washington to Oregon.

2019

Freight rail tonnage decreases by 4.5% in 2019

Railroads in Washington state transported 129 million tons of freight in 2019, a 4.5% decrease from the 135 million tons transported in 2018. The overall decrease was driven by a drop in farm product shipments.

The amount of inbound rail freight (freight that originated outside Washington and was transported to a destination within the state) decreased 6.6% from 71.7 million tons in 2018 to 67 million tons in 2019. Inbound freight made up 51.8% of all statewide rail freight in 2019. Freight rail shipments passing through Washington (with both origin and destination outside the state) accounted for 29.6% (38.2 million tons) of total rail freight tonnage, compared to 40.6 million tons in 2018. Approximately 17.2 million tons of outbound rail freight (which had an in-state origin and an out-of-state destination) was transported in Washington state in 2019, making up 13.3% of total freight rail tonnage. The remaining 5.3% (6.8 million tons) of rail freight was intrastate, with both origin and destination inside Washington.

Over 19% fewer farm products shipped by rail in 2019 than in 2018

In 2019, 35 million tons of farm products (such as soybeans, corn, wheat and dried peas) were shipped by rail in Washington state, a 19.5% decrease from the 43.5 million tons shipped in 2018. This decrease was driven largely by the decline in corn shipped by rail, which dropped 60% from 23.8 million tons in 2018 to 9.5 million tons in 2019. The decrease in corn shipments was associated with less corn originating in the Midwest. The decline in corn exports was largely due to higher U.S. prices impacted by planting delays and reduced crop yields in 2019. In contrast, soybean shipments by rail increased 47% from 8 million tons in 2018 to 11.9 million tons in 2019. This increase was driven largely by rebounding soybean exports to China. Additionally, the amount of wheat shipped by rail increased by 16.2%, from 9.2 million tons in 2018 to 10.7 million tons in 2019; this in part due to increasing wheat exports to foreign markets including Philippines and Taiwan.

Over 11% more hazardous material shipped by rail in 2019 than in 2018

Railroad shipments of hazardous materials increased by 11.3% in 2019 with 21.9 million tons compared to 19.7 million tons in 2018. Shipments of hazardous materials—such as petroleum crude oil, ethyl alcohol, asphalt, propane gas and petroleum/shale oil—increased largely due to more traffic from North Dakota to Washington and traffic passing through Washington on its way from Idaho to California. Rail shipments of coal increased by nearly 6%, going from 17.7 million tons in 2018 to 18.8 million tons in 2019, largely driven by coal shipments from Wyoming to Washington and Washington to Oregon.

2018

Freight rail tonnage increases by 5.4% in 2018

Railroads in Washington state transported 135 million tons of freight in 2018, a 5.4% increase from the 128 million tons transported in 2017. The overall increase was driven by increases in corn shipments and hazardous material shipments.

The amount of inbound rail freight (freight that originated outside Washington and was transported to a destination within the state) increased 8.7% from 65.9 million tons in 2017 to 71.7 million tons in 2018. Inbound freight made up 53% of all statewide rail freight in 2018. Freight rail shipments passing through Washington (with both origin and destination outside the state) accounted for 30% (40.6 million tons) of total rail freight tonnage, compared to 39.5 million tons in 2017. Approximately 16.2 million tons of outbound rail freight (which had an in-state origin and an out-ofstate destination) was transported in Washington state in 2018, making up 12% of total freight rail tonnage. The remaining 5% (6.7 million tons) of rail freight was intrastate, with both origin and destination inside Washington.

Over 7% more farm products shipped by rail in 2018 than in 2017

In 2018, 43.5 million tons of farm products (such as soybeans, corn, wheat and dried peas) were shipped by rail in Washington state, a 7.1% increase from the 40.6 million tons shipped in 2017. This increase was driven largely by growth in the amount of corn shipped by rail, which increased 81.5% from 13.1 million tons in 2017 to 23.8 million tons in 2018; the increase in corn shipments came primarily from corn originating in the Midwest, much of which was exported to Japan and South Korea.

In contrast, soybean shipments declined significantly, leading to an overall decrease of 40.2% (5.4 million tons) in the amount of soybeans shipped by rail in Washington state from 2017 to 2018. This decline was driven largely by a decrease in soybean exports to China following the imposition of tariffs. Additionally, the amount of wheat shipped by rail decreased by 16.3%, going from 11 million tons in 2017 to 9.2 million tons in 2018; this drop comes in part from a decrease in wheat imports from China.

Over 11% more hazardous material shipped by rail in 2018 than in 2017

Railroad shipments of hazardous materials increased by 11.1% in 2018 with 19.7 million tons compared to 17.7 million tons in 2017. Shipments of hazardous materials, such as petroleum crude oil, ethyl alcohol, asphalt, propane gas and petroleum/shale oil, increased largely due to more traffic from North Dakota and Alberta, Canada. Rail shipments of coal increased by nearly 7%, going from 16.6 million tons in 2017 to 17.7 million tons in 2018, largely driven by increased pass-through traffic from Montana to British Columbia.