July 2019 North American Transborder Freight Numbers

Transborder freight between the U.S. and other North American countries (Canada and Mexico) in July 2019:

• Total Transborder Freight: $102.4 billion of transborder freight moved by all modes of transportation, up 1.2% compared to July 2018

• Most-used mode: Trucks moved $63.8 billion of freight, up 1.8% compared to July 2018

• Second mode: Railways moved $14.8 billion of freight, up 3.0% compared to July 2018          

Truck Freight: $63.8 billion (62.3% of all transborder freight)

• By border:

U.S.-Canada: $27.5 billion (54.7% of all northern border freight)

U.S.-Mexico: $36.4 billion (69.6% of all southern border freight)

• Compared to July 2018:

U.S.-Canada down 1.2%

U.S.-Mexico up 4.2%

• Three busiest truck border ports (45.8% of total transborder truck freight)

  • Laredo, TX       $15.8   billion

  • Detroit, MI         $7.9   billion

  • El Paso, TX                     $5.5   billion

• Top three truck commodities (50.9% of total transborder truck freight)

  • Computers and parts   $13.1 billion

  • Electrical machinery               $10.0 billion

  • Motor vehicles and parts $9.4 billion

Rail Freight: $14.8 billion (14.5% of all transborder freight)

• By border:

U.S.-Canada: $7.7 billion (15.4% of all northern border freight)

U.S.-Mexico: $7.1 billion (13.6 % of all southern border freight)

• Compared to July 2018:

U.S.-Canada down 0.3%

U.S.-Mexico up 6.9%

• Three busiest rail border ports (53.1% of total transborder rail freight)

  • Laredo, TX            $3.8 billion

  • Detroit, MI                        $2.1 billion

  • Eagle Pass, TX             $2.0 billion

• Top three rail commodities (60.9% of total transborder rail freight)

  • Motor vehicles and parts $6.9 billion

  • Mineral fuels $1.3 billion

  • Plastics                         $0.8 billion

Total Transborder Freight by Mode: 

U.S.-Canada (both directions)

(Dollars in Billions)

Truck:             $27.5

Rail:                  $7.7

Pipeline:            $6.5  

Air:                    $2.7

Vessel:              $2.5                          

U.S.-Mexico (both directions)

(Dollars in Billions)

Truck:             $36.4

Rail:                  $7.1

Vessel:              $5.5  

Air:                    $1.5

Pipeline:            $0.5

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOT/bulletins/2617f08