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.

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

October 2020 North American Transborder Freight Up 6% from September 2020

Thursday, January 7, 2021

Release Number: BTS 01-21

Transborder freight between the U.S. and North American countries (Canada and Mexico) in October 2020:

  • Total Transborder freight: $102.1 billion of transborder freight moved by all modes of transportation, up 5.8% compared to September 2020 and down 4.7% compared to October 2019.
  • Most-used mode: Trucks moved $67.8 billion of freight, up 6.9% compared to September 2020, down 0.6% compared to October 2019.
  • Second most-used mode: Railways moved $14.5 billion of freight, up 5.0% compared to September 2020, down 0.4% compared to October 2019.

Total Transborder Freight:

  • Compared to September 2020:
U.S.-Canada up 1.1%
U.S.-Mexico up 10.5%
  • Compared to October 2019:
U.S.-Canada down 10.0%
U.S.-Mexico up 0.6%
 

Truck Freight: $67.8 billion (66.5% of all transborder freight)

  • By border:
U.S.-Canada: $29.0 billion (59.9% of all northern border freight)
U.S.-Mexico: $38.9 billion (72.4% of all southern border freight)
  • Compared to September 2020:
U.S.-Canada up 2.2%
U.S.-Mexico up 10.7%
  • Compared to October 2019:
U.S.-Canada down 3.4%
U.S.-Mexico up 1.6%
  • Top three busiest truck border ports (46.1% of total transborder truck freight)
    • Laredo, TX                                      $16.7 billion
    • Detroit, MI                                      $9.2 billion
    • Ysleta, TX                                        $5.4 billion
  • Top three truck commodities (50.2% of total transborder truck freight)
    • Computers and parts                         $13.2 billion
    • Electrical machinery                          $11.4 billion
    • Vehicles and parts                             $9.5 billion

Rail Freight: $14.5 billion (14.2% of all transborder freight)

  • By border:
U.S.-Canada: $7.6 billion (15.7% of all northern border freight)
U.S.-Mexico: $6.8 billion (12.8% of all southern border freight)
  • Compared to September 2020:
U.S.-Canada up 2.0%
U.S.-Mexico up 8.5%
  • Compared to October 2019:
U.S.-Canada down 3.6%
U.S.-Mexico up 3.4%
  • Three busiest rail border ports (59.9% of total transborder rail freight)
Laredo, TX                              $4.0 billion
Eagle Pass, TX                         $2.4 billion
Detroit, MI                              $2.2 billion
  • Top three rail commodities (61.1% of total transborder rail freight)
Motor vehicles and parts                     $7.2 billion
Wood and wood products                    $0.8 billion
Mineral fuels                                      $0.8 billion

 

Total Transborder Freight by Mode:

U.S.-Canada (both directions)

(Dollars in Billions)
Truck:                $29.0
Rail:                   $7.6
Pipeline:             $4.0
Air:                    $2.9
Vessel:               $1.5           
 
U.S.-Mexico (both directions)
(Dollars in Billions)
Truck:                $38.9
Rail:                   $6.8
Vessel:               $4.5
Air:                    $1.5
Pipeline:             $0.5            

 

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 Jan. 28.