U.S.-NAFTA freight sees 4.7 percent annual gain in October, reports BTS

The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported this week that U.S. trade with its North America Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico was up 4.7 percent at $108.2 billion. This tally marks the highest month on record for total value of U.S-NAFTA trade flows not adjusted for inflation, according to BTS officials.

On an annual basis, trucks, which account for three-fifths of U.S.-NAFTA Trade, were up 7.2 percent annually in October and air freight was up 4.9 percent, with rail up 2.4 percent.  Pipelines and vessel, which BTS said are the modes that move the most mineral fuels, were down 1.2 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively.

Trucks accounted for $33.8 billion in exports and $32.3 billion in imports in October.

Rail accounted for 15.1 percent of all U.S.-NAFTA freight, with vessel at 7.7 percent, pipeline at 7.3 percent, and air at 3.8 percent. BTS said truck, rail, and pipeline accounted for 83.5 percent of total U.S.-NAFTA freight flows.

Trucks moved 54.8 percent, or $58.6 billion of freight to and from Canada in October, with rail next at 16.1 percent, followed by pipeline, vessel, and air at 12.8 percent, 4.9 percent, and 4.5 percent, respectively.

And trucks also led the way in Mexico with 68.5 percent, or $49.7 billion, of freight to and from Mexico, followed by rail at 13.9 percent, vessel at 10.9 percent, and air and pipeline at 3.0 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively.