The total value of cross border trade between the U.S. and its partners in the North American Free Trade Agreement reached $100.6 billion in November 2017, with all five major transportation modes carrying more freight by value compared to 12 months prior.
The total value of cross-border trade between the United States and its partners in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which include Canada and Mexico, reached $100.6 billion in November 2017.
All five major transportation modes carried more freight by value during the month compared to November 2016, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
November 2017 freight rose 10.5 percent from 12 months prior, and marked the 13th 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, BTS said.
Freight moved by vessel increased 46 percent year-over-year, due in part to a 24 percent boost in crude oil prices and a 24.6 percent rise in the tonnage of mineral fuels traded, BTS said. Compared to November 2016, freight moved by air, pipeline, truck and rail grew 11.4 percent, 11 percent, 8.1 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively.
Overall, trucks carried 63.1 percent of U.S.-NAFTA freight, and continued to be the most utilized mode for moving goods across the border. Trucks accounted for $32.8 billion, or 61.1 percent of imports; and $30.6 billion, or 65.4 percent, of exports.
Rail moved 14.5 percent of all U.S.-NAFTA freight in November 2017, followed by vessel at 7.8 percent, pipeline at 5.4 percent and air at 3.9 percent.
Broken down by country, the value of U.S.-Canada freight flows increased by 11.2 percent year-over-year to $51.3 billion. All five modes increased in value as well, with vessel increasing by 59.7, air by 12.5 percent, pipeline by 11.8 percent, rail by 10 percent and truck by 8.5 percent.
Trucks, again, carried the majority of freight across the Canadian border at 57.5 percent of the value of the freight. Rail carried 15.9 percent, followed by pipeline at 9.9 percent, vessel at 4.9 percent and air at 4.8 percent.
The value of U.S.-Mexico freight flows increased by 9.7 percent year-over-year to $49.3 billion, with vessel values increasing by 40.4 percent, air by 9.6 percent, truck by 7.8 percent and pipeline by 0.9 percent. Rail decreased by 1.9 percent, said BTS.
Trucks carried 68.9 percent of the value of freight to and from Mexico. Rail carried 13.1 percent, followed by vessels at 10.9 percent and air at 3 percent.
In November 2017, the top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Canada was vehicles and parts, of which $5.5 billion, or 57.5 percent, moved by truck and $3.8 billion, or 39.6 percent, by rail. The top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Mexico in November 2017 was electrical machinery, of which $8.6 billion, or 91.4 percent, moved by truck and $475 million, or 5 percent, moved by air, said BTS.
NAFTA trade increases 10.5% in November 2017
