US-NAFTA freight totaled $86.5 billion in current dollars as three major transportation modes – pipeline, vessel and rail – carried more freight by value with North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico in February 2017 compared to February 2016, according to the TransBorder Freight Data released Thursday by the US Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). In a year-on-year analysis, US-NAFTA freight value increased 2.9 percent.
The value of commodities moving by pipeline increased 65.2 percent, vessel by 36.9 percent, and rail by 7.0 percent. Air decreased by 1.6 percent and truck decreased by 3.6 percent. The large percentage increase in the value of goods moving by pipeline and vessel was largely due to a 76 percent increase in the year-over-year price of crude oil between February 2016 and February 2017.
From February 2016 to February 2017, the value of US-Canada freight flows increased by 4.2 percent to $44.4 billion as the value of freight on three major modes increased from a year earlier. The value of freight carried on pipeline increased by 69.7 percent, rail by 6.3 percent, and vessel by 1.2 percent. Air decreased by 1.5 percent, and truck by 2.2 percent. The increase in the value of commodities moved in pipeline reflects the increased value of mineral fuels year over year.
The value of US-Mexico freight flows increased by 1.5 percent year-on-year in February to $42.1 billion as the value of freight on three major modes increased from a year earlier. The value of commodities moved by vessel increased by 54.2 percent, pipeline by 9.5 percent, and rail by 7.8 percent. Air decreased by 1.8 percent, and truck by 4.7 percent. The increase in the value of commodities moved by vessel reflects the increased value of mineral fuels year over year.
In February 2017, the top commodity category transported between the US and Canada by all modes was vehicles and parts, of which $4.9 billion, or 56.4 percent, moved by truck and $3.6 billion, or 41.3 percent, moved by rail. The top commodity category transported between the US and Mexico by all modes in February 2017 was also vehicles and parts, of which $3.8 billion or 47.9 percent moved by rail.