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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 21% in August 2021 from August 2020, up 7.6% since Pre-Pandemic August 2019

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

BTS 66-21
BTS Contact: Todd Solomon
todd.solomon@dot.gov

 

 

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

  • Total transborder freight: $113.1 billion of transborder freight moved by all modes of transportation, up 21% compared to August 2020. August 2021 transborder freight was up 7.6% from the $105.1 billion in freight moved in August 2019.
  • Nations: Freight between the U.S. and Canada totaled $56.8B, up by 21.9% from August 2020. Freight between the U.S. and Mexico totaled $56.3B, up 20.1% from August 2020.
  • Most-used mode: Trucks moved $70.5 billion of freight, up 15.9% compared to August 2020 and up 6.8% compared to $66.1 billion in August 2019.
  • Second most-used mode: Railways moved $15.4 billion of freight, up 11.6% compared to August 2020 and down nearly 4% compared to $16.1 billion in August 2019.
  • Also noteworthy: Pipeline activity with Canada amounted to $7.9B, up 88% from August 2020’s $4.2B

 

 

Total Transborder Freight by Border and Mode:

U.S.-Canada (both directions)
(Dollars in Billions)
Truck:              $30.6
Rail:                 $8.7
Pipeline:           $7.9   
Air:                   $3.0
Vessel:             $3.0

U.S.-Mexico (both directions)
(Dollars in Billions)
Truck:              $39.9
Rail:                 $6.7
Vessel:             $5.7   
Air:                   $1.5
Pipeline:           $0.9

 

Truck Freight: $70.5 billion (62.4% of all transborder freight)

  • By border:
    • U.S.-Canada: $30.6 billion (54.1% of all northern border freight)
    • U.S.-Mexico: $39.9 billion (70.9% of all southern border freight)

 

  • Top three busiest truck border ports (44.7% of total transborder truck freight)
    • Laredo, TX                                    $17.3 billion
    • Detroit, MI                                      $ 8.7 billion
    • Ysleta, TX                                        $5.5 billion

 

  • Top three truck commodities (46.7% of total transborder truck freight)
    • Computers and parts                      $13.1 billion
    • Electrical machinery                     $11.2 billion
    • Vehicles and parts                          $8.6 billion

 

Rail Freight: $15.4 billion (13.6% of all transborder freight)

  • By border:
    • U.S.-Canada: $8.7 billion (15.3% of all northern border freight)
    • U.S.-Mexico: $6.7 billion (12.0% of all southern border freight)

 

  • Three busiest rail border ports (48.5% of total transborder rail freight)
    • Laredo, TX                                        $3.3 billion
    • Port Huron, MI                                   $2.2 billion
    • Eagle Pass, TX                                    $2.0 billion

 

  • Top three rail commodities (53.5% of total transborder rail freight)
    • Vehicles and parts                             $5.6 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 September transborder numbers for November 19.