BTS reports U.S-NAFTA trade is up annually in November for 13th consecutive month

The United States Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported this week that United States trade with its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners, Canada and Mexico, was up annually in November, the most recent month for which data is available.

With a 10.5% annual gain, November represents the 13th consecutive month of increases.  

Trucks carried 63.1% of U.S.-NAFTA freight and continued to be the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners. Trucks also accounted for $32.8 billion of the $53.8 billion of imports (61.1%) and $30.6 billion of the $46.8 billion of exports (67.3%).

Rail remained the second largest mode by value, moving 14.5% of all U.S.-NAFTA freight, followed by vessel, 7.8%; pipeline, 5.4%; and air, 3.9%. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 82.9% of the total value of U.S.-NAFTA freight flows.

BTS said that from November 2016 to November 2017 the value of U.S.-Canada freight flows headed up 11.2% to $51.3 million, as the as the value of freight on five major modes increased annually.

Truck, rail and pipeline comprised a cumulative 83.2% of the value of total U.S.-Canada freight flows. The value of freight carried on vessel increased by 59.7%, due in part to an increase in the unit value and a 22.4% increase in the tonnage of mineral fuels traded. Air increased by 12.5%, pipeline by 11.8%, rail by 10.0%, and truck by 8.5%. Trucks carried 57.5% of the value of the freight to and from Canada. Rail carried 15.9% followed by pipeline, 9.9%; vessel, 4.9%; and air, 4.8%.

Comparing November 2016 to November 2017, the value of U.S.-Mexico freight flows increased by 9.7% to $49.3 billion as the value of freight on four major modes increased from a year earlier. The value of commodities moved by vessel increased by 40.4%, air by 9.6%, truck by 7.8%, and pipeline by 0.9%. Rail decreased by 1.9%.

Trucks carried 68.9% of the value of freight to and from Mexico. Rail carried 13.1% followed by vessel, 10.9%; air, 3.0%; and pipeline, 0.7%. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 82.6% of the value of total U.S.-Mexico freight flows.