US-NAFTA freight totaled $91.1 billion in current dollars as three major transportation modes carried more freight by value with North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico in April 2017 compared to April 2016, according to the TransBorder Freight Data released today by the US Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). The 0.8 percent rise from April 2016 is the sixth consecutive month in which the year-over-year value of US-NAFTA freight increased from the same month of the previous year.
The value of commodities moving by pipeline increased 63.5 percent, vessel by 27.8 percent, and rail by 5.8 percent. Freight moved by air decreased by 2.1 percent, and truck decreased by 5.5 percent.
Trucks carried 62.6 percent of US-NAFTA freight and continued to be the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both US-NAFTA partners. Trucks accounted for $29.4 billion of the $49.5 billion of imports (59.5 percent) and $27.6 billion of the $41.6 billion of exports (66.3 percent). Rail remained the second largest mode by value, moving 16.4 percent of all US-NAFTA freight, followed by vessel, 6.3 percent; pipeline, 5.9 percent; and air, 3.6 percent.
From April 2016 to April 2017, the value of US-Canada freight flows increased by 2.5 percent to $47.0 billion as the value of freight on three major modes increased from a year earlier. The value of freight carried on pipeline increased by 67.1 percent, vessel by 13.8 percent, and rail by 6.4 percent. Truck decreased by 2.8 percent, and air decreased by 7.2 percent.
From April 2016 to April 2017, the value of US-Mexico freight flows decreased by 1.0 percent to $44.0 billion even as the value of freight on four major modes increased from a year earlier. The value of commodities moved by vessel increased by 34.5 percent, pipeline by 19.7 percent, air by 7.1 percent, and rail by 5.1 percent. Truck, which carries the largest share of US-Mexico freight, decreased by 7.8 percent.
In April 2017, the top commodity category transported between the US and Canada was vehicles and parts, of which $4.8 billion, or 53.7 percent, moved by truck and $3.9 billion, or 43.8 percent, moved by rail. The top commodity category transported between the US and Mexico in April 2017 was also vehicles and parts, of which $3.7 billion or 44.4 percent moved by truck and $3.7 billion or 44.0 percent moved by rail.