BTS reports first annual gain in U.S.-NAFTA freight value since December 2014

U.S. trade with itsNorth American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was up 0.7 percent annually in August at $93.1 billion, according to the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

This slight increase snapped a stretch of annual declines for the total value of U.S.-NAFTA freight, going back to December 2014. And it comes off of July 2016’s $76.7, which stands as the lowest monthly amount going back to February 2011.

卡车携带U.S.-NAFTA运费的65.3%and continued to be the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners. Trucks accounted for $31.2 billion of the $49.7 billion of imports (62.8 percent) and $29.6 billion of the $43.4 billion of exports (68.3 percent). And rail remained the second largest mode by value, moving 15.3 percent of all U.S.-NAFTA freight, followed by vessel, 5.8 percent; pipeline, 5.1 percent; and air, 3.7 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 85.7 percent of the total value of U.S.-NAFTA freight flows.

From August 2015 to August 2016, the value of U.S.-Canada freight flows fell 1.4 percent to $47.3 billion, even though three modes-air, rail, and truck-carried a higher value of U.S.-Canada freight annually. The value was down, due to decreases in the value of goods moved by vessel and pipeline, said BTS. Trucks carried 59.6 percent of the value of the freight to and from Canada. Rail carried 16.5 percent followed by pipeline, 9.0 percent; air, 4.7 percent; and vessel, 3.8 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 85.1 percent of the value of total U.S.-Canada freight flows.

And the value of U.S.-Mexico freight was up 3.0 percent to $45.8 billion in August, with pipeline, truck, and air each carrying a higher value of U.S.-Mexico freight on an annual basis. Freight carried by pipeline increased by 45.1 percent, truck by 5.4 percent and air by 0.1 percent. Rail decreased 3.8 percent and vessel decreased by 4.9 percent. Trucks carried 71.2 percent of the value of freight to and from Mexico. Rail carried 14.1 percent followed by vessel, 7.8 percent; air, 2.8 percent; and pipeline, 1.1 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 86.4 percent of the value of total U.S.-Mexico freight flows.