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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 22% in July 2021 from July 2020, up 9% since Pre-Pandemic July 2019

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

BTS 60-21
BTS Contact: Todd Solomon
todd.solomon@dot.gov

 

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

  • Total transborder freight: $111.3 billion of transborder freight moved by all modes of transportation, up 22% compared to July 2020. July 2021 transborder freight was up 8.6% compared to $102.4 billion in pre-pandemic July 2019.
  • Nations: Freight between the U.S. and Canada totaled $55.7B. Freight between the U.S. and Mexico totaled $55.6B.
  • Most-used mode: Trucks moved $68.6 billion of freight, up 13.0% compared to July 2020 and up 7.5% compared to $63.8 billion in July 2019.
  • Second most-used mode: Railways moved $15.7 billion of freight, up 21.8% compared to July 2020 and up 6.0% compared to $14.8 billion in July 2019.

 

Total Transborder Freight by Border Compared to July 2020:

  • U.S.-Canada up 28.3%
  • U.S.-Mexico up 16.9%

Total Transborder Freight by Border and Mode:

 

U.S.-Canada (both directions)
(Dollars in Billions)
Truck:              $29.9
Rail:                  $9.0
Pipeline:          $7.4   
Air:                   $3.1
Vessel:             $2.5		   U.S.-Mexico (both directions)
(Dollars in Billions)
Truck:               $38.7
Rail:                  $6.7
Vessel:              $6.2   
Air:                    $1.5
Pipeline:           $0.8   

 

Truck Freight: $68.6 billion (61.7% of all transborder freight)

  • By border:
    • U.S.-Canada: $29.9 billion (53.7% of all northern border freight)
    • U.S.-Mexico: $38.7 billion (69.7% of all southern border freight)

 

  • Top three busiest truck border ports (44.2% of total transborder truck freight)
    • Laredo, TX                                    $16.8 billion
    • Detroit, MI                                      $ 8.5 billion
    • Pt Huron, MI                                    $5.0 billion

 

  • Top three truck commodities (46.2% of total transborder truck freight)
    • Computers and parts                      $13.0 billion
    • Electrical machinery                     $10.8 billion
    • Vehicles and parts                          $7.9 billion

 

Rail Freight: $15.7 billion (14.1% of all transborder freight)

  • By border:
    • U.S.-Canada: $9.0 billion (16.1% of all northern border freight)
    • U.S.-Mexico: $6.7 billion (12.1% of all southern border freight)

 

  • Three busiest rail border ports (48.6% of total transborder rail freight)
    • Laredo, TX                                        $3.2 billion
    • Detroit, MI                                          $2.2 billion
    • Eagle Pass, TX                                    $2.2 billion

 

  • Top three rail commodities (53.5% of total transborder rail freight)
    • Vehicles and parts                             $5.8 billion
    • Plastics                                                 $1.4 billion
    • Mineral fuels                                       $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 August transborder numbers for October 26.