Question-and-Answer Session
Operator
(Operator Instructions) Our first question comes from Analyst for Thomas Wadewitz - J.P. Morgan.
Analyst for Thomas Wadewitz - J.P. Morgan
I think you said that air freight tonnage was up 4% in the quarter and ocean TEUs were up 13%. Can you tell us where August came out?
Roger I. MacFarlane
We don’t give that kind of forward-looking information during the current quarter. What we can say is that if you look at the trend from the first quarter to the second, there was a deceleration in the rate which was evident and progressive during the course of the quarter.
Analyst for Thomas Wadewitz - J.P. Morgan
Would that have progressed further in August, without giving a specific number?
Robert I. MacFarlane
All I can say is that July was the weakest month of the quarter in terms of volume.
Analyst for Thomas Wadewitz - J.P. Morgan
On the yield side, can you talk about throughout the quarter how that progressed? I think you said you were up 230 basis points in air yield ex fuel. Can you talk about sequentially what you saw throughout the quarter? Was there a significant tightening at the end of the quarter?
Roger I. MacFarlane
Lawrence will answer that.
Lawrence R. Samuels
Obviously as volumes do decelerate that does help with the yield expansion, so as Roger mentioned, July was the weakest volume so that is a month we did see yields begin to improve.
Analyst for Thomas Wadewitz - J.P. Morgan
In terms of the two contracts that you referenced last quarter, I think you said there were $3 million in total losses in the current quarter. Can you talk about what the run rate was exiting the quarter? And I think you said that you expected that those contracts could be profitable by the end of the year. What level of profitability would you expect them to achieve?
Roger I. MacFarlane
I think the right way to think about this is that as things are being fixed and as they improve sequentially month by month we see improvements and that was evident during the quarter. I think we’re really saying we intend to get these into a situation where they’re not hemorrhaging by the end of the year. I think that that’s a realistic expectation.
Operator
Our next question comes from Alexander Brand - Stephens, Inc.
Alexander Brand - Stephens, Inc.
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