USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Site Notification

Site Notification

U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

North American Transborder Freight up 15.1% in October 2021 from October 2020, up 9.6% since Pre-Pandemic October 2019

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

BTS 75-21

 

 

Transborder freight between the U.S. and North American countries (Canada and Mexico) in October 2021:

  • Total transborder freight: $117.4 billion of transborder freight moved by all modes of transportation, up 15.1% compared to October 2020. October 2021 transborder freight was up 9.6% compared to $107.1 billion in October 2019.
  • Freight between the U.S. and Canada totaled $58.6B, up 21.1% from October 2020. Freight between the U.S. and Mexico totaled $58.8B, up 9.6% from October 2020.
  • Trucks moved $73.8 billion of freight, up 8.9% compared to October 2020.
  • Railways moved $16.5 billion of freight, up 13.9% compared to October 2020.

 

Total Transborder Freight by Border and Mode:

U.S.-Canada (both directions)
(Dollars in Billions)
Truck:              $32.7
Rail:                 $9.0
Pipeline:           $7.3   
Vessel:             $2.9
Air:                  $2.9

U.S.-Mexico (both directions)
(Dollars in Billions)
Truck:              $41.1
Rail:                 $7.5
Vessel:             $5.9   
Air:                   $1.7
Pipeline:           $1.0

 

Truck Freight: $73.8 billion (62.9% of all transborder freight)

  • U.S.-Canada: $32.7 billion (55.8% of all northern border freight)
  • U.S.-Mexico: $41.1 billion (69.9% of all southern border freight)

 

  • Top three busiest truck border ports (44.2% of total transborder truck freight)
    • Laredo, TX                 $17.3 billion
    • Detroit, MI                  $ 9.6 billion
    • Port Huron, MI           $5.7 billion

 

  • Top three truck commodities (47.5% of total transborder truck freight)
    • Computers and parts   $13.8 billion
    • Electrical machinery  $11.8 billion
    • Vehicles and parts      $9.4 billion

 

Rail Freight: $16.5 billion (14.0% of all transborder freight)

  • U.S.-Canada: $9.0 billion (15.3% of all northern border freight)
  • U.S.-Mexico: $7.5 billion (12.7% of all southern border freight)

 

  • Three busiest rail border ports (48.9% of total transborder rail freight)
    • Laredo, TX                 $3.7 billion
    • Port Huron, MI           $2.2 billion
    • Eagle Pass, TX            $2.2 billion

 

  • Top three rail commodities (55.0% of total transborder rail freight)
    • Vehicles and parts      $6.4 billion
    • Mineral fuels               $1.3 billion
    • Plastics and articles      $1.3 billion

 

 

Reporting Notes

Data in this Bureau of Transportation Statistics release are not seasonally adjusted and are not adjusted for inflation. For previous statistical releases and summary tables, see transborder releases. See transborder freight data for data from previous months, and for additional state, port, and commodity data. BTS has scheduled the release of November transborder numbers for January 13, 2022.