US-NAFTA freight totaled $85.7 billion in February 2015 as two out of five transportation modes – air and truck – carried more US-NAFTA freight than in February 2014, according to the TransBorder Freight Data released Wednesday by the US Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The $85.7 billion total is the lowest February value for US-NAFTA freight since 2011. Year-over-year, the value of US-NAFTA freight flows by all modes decreased by 4.3 percent.
In February 2015 compared to February 2014, the value of commodities moving by air grew by the largest percentage of any mode, 4.5 percent. Truck freight increased by 0.9 percent. Rail freight decreased by 6.2 percent. Trucks carried 63.1 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 $26.9 billion of the $45.7 billion of imports (58.9 percent) and $27.2 billion of the $40.0 billion of exports (67.9 percent).
US-Canada freight totaled $45.1 billion in February 2015 as only one out of five transportation modes –air– carried more US-Canada freight than in February 2014. Truck freight decreased by 2.9 percent and rail decreased by 13.3 percent.
US-Mexico freight totaled $40.6 billion in February 2015 as three out of five transportation modes –air, truck, and rail– carried more US-Mexico freight than in February 2014. Freight carried by truck increased by 4.7 percent and rail freight increased by 3.3 percent.
In February 2015, the top commodity category transported between the US and Canada was mineral fuels, of which $4.9 billion, or 58.2 percent, moved by pipeline. The top commodity category transported between the US and Mexico in February 2015 was vehicles, of which $3.6 billion, or 49.3 percent, moved by truck.