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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 41% in June 2021 from June 2020, up 12% since Pre-Pandemic June 2019

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

BTS 53-21
BTS Contact: Todd Solomon
todd.solomon@dot.gov

 

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

  • Total Transborder freight: $116 billion of transborder freight moved by all modes of transportation, up 41% compared to June 2020. June 2021 Transborder freight was up 11.8% compared to $103.8 billion in June 2019.
  • Nations: Freight between the U.S. and Canada totaled $58.8B. Freight between the U.S. and Mexico totaled $57.2B.
  • Most-used mode: Trucks moved $72.2 billion of freight, up 27.9% compared to June 2020 and up 10% compared to $65.6 billion in June 2019.
  • Second most-used mode: Railways moved $16.4 billion of freight, up 45.5% compared to June 2020 and up 3.4% compared to $15.8 billion in June 2019.
  • Largest percentage increases: Pipelines moved $8.31 billion of freight, up 203% compared to June 2020 and up 41% compared to June 2019. Airplanes moved $4.85 billion of freight, up 44% compared to June 2020 and up 26% compared to June 2019.

 

Total Transborder Freight:

  • Compared to June 2020:
    • U.S.-Canada up 45.3%
    • U.S.-Mexico up 37.4%
  • Compared to June 2019:
    • U.S.-Canada up 11.4%
    • U.S.-Mexico up 11.7%

 

Truck Freight: $72.2 billion (62.3% of all transborder freight)

  • By border:
    • U.S.-Canada: $32.5 billion (55.3% of all northern border freight)
    • U.S.-Mexico: $39.7 billion (69.4% of all southern border freight)

 

  • Top three busiest truck border ports (44.6% of total transborder truck freight)
    • Laredo, TX                                    $17.4 billion
    • Detroit, MI                                      $ 8.9 billion
    • Pt Huron, MI                                    $5.7 billion

 

  • Top three truck commodities (45.6% of total transborder truck freight)
    • Computers and parts                      $13.4 billion
    • Electrical machinery                     $10.7 billion
    • Vehicles and parts                          $8.8 billion

 

 

Rail Freight: $16.4 billion (14.1% of all transborder freight)

  • By border:
    • U.S.-Canada: $9.2 billion (15.6% of all northern border freight)
    • U.S.-Mexico: $7.2 billion (12.6% of all southern border freight)

 

  • Three busiest rail border ports (50.4% of total transborder rail freight)
    • Laredo, TX                                        $3.8 billion
    • Detroit, MI                                          $2.4 billion
    • Eagle Pass, TX                                    $2.1 billion

 

 

  • Top three rail commodities (55.6% of total transborder rail freight)
    • Vehicles Other than Railway             $6.2 billion
    • Wood and Articles                              $1.6 billion
    • Mineral fuels                                       $1.3 billion

 

 

Total Transborder Freight by Mode:

 

U.S.-Canada (both directions) $58.8B
(Dollars in Billions)
Truck:              $32.5
Rail:                   $9.2
Pipeline:           $7.6
Air:                    $3.2
Vessel:              $2.6

 

U.S.-Mexico (both directions) $57.2B
(Dollars in Billions)
Truck:              $39.7
Rail:                    $7.2
Vessel:               $5.9
Air:                     $1.7
Pipeline:            $0.7

 

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 July TransBorder numbers for September 22.