The value of
US-NAFTA freight totaled $99.0 billion in June 2015 as all modes except truck carried less
US-NAFTA freight than in June 2014, according to the TransBorder Freight Data released today by the
US Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Year-over-year, the value of
US-NAFTA freight flows by all modes decreased by 3.8 percent.
In June 2015 compared to June 2014, the value of commodities moving by truck increased by 5.1 percent, while rail decreased by 4.5 percent and air by 8.9 percent. Trucks carried 65.0 percent of
US-NAFTA freight and are the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both
US-NAFTA partners. Trucks accounted for $33.2 billion of the $53.8 billion of imports (61.6 percent) and $31.2 billion of the $45.2 billion of exports (69.0 percent).
Rail remained the second largest mode by value, moving 14.9 percent of all
US-NAFTA freight, followed by vessel, 7.0 percent; pipeline, 5.0 percent; and air, 3.6 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 84.8 percent of the total
US-NAFTA freight flows.
The value of
US-Canada freight totaled $52.0 billion in June 2015, down 10.3 percent from June 2014, as all modes of transportation carried a lower value of
US-Canada freight than a year earlier. A recession in Canada likely contributed to the decrease of
US-Canada freight flows.
The value of
US-Mexico freight totaled $47.1 billion in June 2015, up 4.4 percent from June 2014, as three out of five transportation modes – truck, rail and air – carried more
US-Mexico freight than in June 2014. Year-over-year, the value of
US-Mexico truck freight rose 10.5 percent, the largest percentage increase of any mode.
In June 2015, the top commodity category for all modes transported between the
US and Canada was vehicles and parts, of which $5.8 billion, or 60.8 percent, moved by truck and $3.5 billion, or 36.6 percent, moved by rail.
Vehicles and parts replaced mineral fuels as the top commodity in March 2015 and continues to be the top commodity for a fourth straight month. The top commodity category for all modes transported between the
US and Mexico in June 2015 was vehicles and parts, of which $4.7 billion, or 51.8 percent, moved by truck and $3.8 billion, or 41.7 percent, moved by rail.