North American Transborder Freight up 85% in April 2021 from April 2020

BTS 41-21
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
BTS Contact: Dave Smallen
david.smallen@dot.gov

 

North American Transborder Freight up 85% in April 2021

from April 2020

 

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

• Total Transborder freight: $107.4 billion of transborder freight moved by all modes of transportation, up 84.7% compared to April 2020. April 2021 Transborder freight was up 2.7% compared to $104.5 billion in April 2019.
• Most-used mode: Trucks moved $68.3 billion of freight, up 77.5% compared to April 2020. Truck freight was up 5.0% compared to $65.1 billion in April 2019.
• Second most-used mode: Railways moved $15.7 billion of freight, up 164.4% compared to April 2020. Rail freight was up 0.7% compared to $15.6 billion in April 2019. 

Total Transborder Freight:

• Compared to April 2020:
  U.S.-Canada up 76.8%
  U.S.-Mexico up 93.0%

• Compared to April 2019:
  U.S.-Canada up 1.3%
  U.S.-Mexico up 4.1%

 Truck Freight: $68.3 billion (63.7% of all transborder freight)

• By border:
  U.S.-Canada: $30.0 billion (56.9% of all northern border freight)
  U.S.-Mexico: $38.4 billion (70.1% of all southern border freight)

• Compared to April 2020:
  U.S.-Canada up 68.7%
  U.S.-Mexico up 85.0%

• Top three busiest truck border ports (42.9% of total transborder truck freight)
  • Laredo, TX                $16.2 billion
  • Detroit, MI                 $ 7.9 billion
  • Port Huron, MI          $5.2 billion
    
    
• Top three truck commodities (46.1% of total transborder truck freight)
  • Computers and parts        $12.9 billion
  • Electrical machinery        $10.6 billion
  • Vehicles and parts            $7.9 billion

 

Rail Freight: $15.7 billion (14.7% of all transborder freight)

• By border:
  U.S.-Canada: $8.4 billion (16.0% of all northern border freight)
  U.S.-Mexico: $7.3 billion (13.4% of all southern border freight)

• Compared to April 2020:
  U.S.-Canada up 132.4%
  U.S.-Mexico up 213.9%

• Three busiest rail border ports (49.0% of total transborder rail freight)
  • Laredo, TX              $3.5 billion
  • Eagle Pass, TX        $2.2 billion
  • Detroit, MI              $2.0 billion
    
    
• Top three rail commodities (54.9% of total transborder rail freight)
  • Motor vehicles and parts       $6.0 billion
  • Mineral fuels                         $1.4 billion
  • Wood and articles                  $1.3 billion

 

Total Transborder Freight by Mode:

U.S.-Canada (both directions)
(Dollars in Billions)
Truck:              $30.0
Rail:                   $8.4
Pipeline:             $5.9
Air:                     $2.7
Vessel:               $2.4 

U.S.-Mexico (both directions)
(Dollars in Billions)
Truck:              $38.4
Rail:                   $7.3
Vessel:               $5.5
Air:                     $1.4
Pipeline:             $0.6
 

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 May TransBorder numbers for July 21.