North American Transborder Freight up 94% in May 2021

BTS 46-21
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Transborder freight between the U.S. and North American countries (Canada and Mexico) in May 2021:

• Total Transborder freight: $108.6 billion of transborder freight moved by all modes of transportation, up 93.8% compared to May 2020 but remained 1.0% below May 2019. May 2021 Transborder freight was down 1.1% compared to $109.8 billion in May 2019.
• Most-used mode: Trucks moved $68.0 billion of freight, up 73.6% compared to May 2020. Truck freight was down 1.4% compared to $68.9 billion in May 2019.
• Second most-used mode: Railways moved $15.9 billion of freight, up 190.3% compared to May 2020. Rail freight was down 2.2% compared to $16.3 billion in May 2019.

Total Transborder Freight:

• Compared to May 2020:
  • U.S.-Canada up 77.4%
  • U.S.-Mexico up 113.5%

• Compared to May 2019:
  • U.S.-Canada down 1.4%
  • U.S.-Mexico down 0.7%

Truck Freight: $68.0 billion (62.6% of all transborder freight)

• By border:
  • U.S.-Canada: $30.9 billion (56.7% of all northern border freight)
  • U.S.-Mexico: $37.1 billion (68.4% of all southern border freight)

• Compared to May 2020:
  • U.S.-Canada up 58.0%
  • U.S.-Mexico up 89.2%

• Top three busiest truck border ports (43.5% of total transborder truck freight)
  • Laredo, TX                                    $15.9 billion
  • Detroit, MI                                      $ 8.1 billion
  • Port Huron, MI                                $5.5 billion

• Top three truck commodities (45.2% of total transborder truck freight)
  • Computers and parts                      $12.6 billion
  • Electrical machinery                     $10.1 billion
  • Vehicles and parts                            $8.1 billion

Rail Freight: $15.9 billion (14.6% of all transborder freight)

• By border:
  • U.S.-Canada: $8.5 billion (15.5% of all northern border freight)
  • U.S.-Mexico: $7.5 billion (13.8% of all southern border freight)

• Compared to May 2020:
  • U.S.-Canada up 146.4%
  • U.S.-Mexico up 263.8%

• Three busiest rail border ports (49.2% of total transborder rail freight)
  • Laredo, TX                                        $3.7 billion
  • Eagle Pass, TX                                    $2.3 billion
  • Port Huron, MI                                   $1.9 billion

• Top three rail commodities (53.7% of total transborder rail freight)
  • Motor vehicles and parts                    $5.7 billion
  • Wood and articles                               $1.6 billion
  • Mineral fuels                                       $1.3 billion

Total Transborder Freight by Mode:

U.S.-Canada (both directions)
(Dollars in Billions)
Truck:              $30.9
Rail:                   $8.5
Pipeline:             $6.2
Air:                     $3.1
Vessel:               $2.3            

U.S.-Mexico (both directions)
(Dollars in Billions)
Truck:              $37.1
Rail:                   $7.5
Vessel:               $6.0
Air:                     $1.4
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 June TransBorder numbers for August 24.