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Friday, March 29, 2024

U.S.-NAFTA Freight Value Up For 14th Consecutive Month

 

The value of U.S.-NAFTA freight totalled $93.5 billion as all five major transportation modes carried more freight by value with North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico in December 2017 compared to December 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

The 7.4 percent rise from December 2016 is the 14th consecutive month in which the year-over-year value in current dollars of U.S.-NAFTA freight increased from the same month of the previous year.

The value of commodities moving by vessel increased 37.8 percent, pipeline by 14.2 percent, truck by 5.4 percent, air by 4.1 percent, and rail by 2.8 percent. The large percentage increase in the value of goods moving by vessel is due in part to a 11.4 percent year-over-year crude oil price increase, and a 22.2 percent increase in the tonnage of mineral fuels transported by vessel.

Trucks carried 60.7 percent of U.S.-NAFTA freight and continued to be the most utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners. Trucks accounted for $29.0 billion of the $50.5 billion of imports (57.4 percent) and $27.8 billion of the $43.0 billion of exports (64.6 percent).
Rail remained the second largest mode by value, moving 14.5 percent of all U.S.-NAFTA freight, followed by vessel at 8.4 percent; pipeline at 6.5 percent; and air at 4.1 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 81.7 percent of the total value of U.S.-NAFTA freight flows.

Comparing December 2016 to December 2017, the value of U.S.-Canada freight flows increased by 9.5 percent to $48.7 billion as the value of freight on all five major modes increased from a year earlier. Trucks carried 55.1 percent of the value of the freight to and from Canada.

Comparing December 2016 to December 2017, the value of U.S.-Mexico freight flows increased by 5.2 percent to $44.8 billion as the value of freight on three major modes increased from a year earlier. Trucks carried 66.8 percent of the value of freight to and from Mexico.

In December 2017, the top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Canada was mineral fuels, of which $5.6 billion, or 61.7 percent, moved by pipeline and $2.1 billion, or 23.0 percent by vessel. The top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Mexico in December 2017 was vehicles and parts, of which $3.7 billion, or 45.0 percent, moved by truck, and $3.4 billion, or 41.4 percent, moved by rail.