NAFTA Monthly Freight Flow Values Rise as Rail, Pipeline Shipments Jump
The value of monthly freight flows between the U.S. and its NAFTA partners rose 2.2 percent from September to October to $93.2 billion, according to statistics released Jan. 5 by the Department of Transportation.
However, the value of NAFTA freight flows was down 3.6 percent in October from a year earlier, marking the 21st time in the past 22 months that this value has declined year-on-year. The value of total U.S. trade with Canada fell 2.5 percent to $46.5 billion as the truck, vessel, and air modes carried a lower value of freight. The value of U.S. trade with Mexico fell 4.7 percent to $46.6 billion despite the rail, pipeline, and vessel modes all carrying higher values.
Vehicles and parts retained their spot as the top commodity category for all modes transported between the U.S. and Canada, while electrical machinery stayed in the top spot in U.S.-Mexico trade.
Percentage changes in the value of monthly U.S. freight flows with Canada and Mexico by mode of transportation from October 2015 to October 2016 include the following.
|
Total |
Canada |
Mexico |
||||
|
Imports |
Exports |
Imports |
Exports |
Imports |
Exports |
|
|
Truck |
-5.1 |
-7.2 |
+1.1 |
-6.5 |
-9.0 |
-7.9 |
|
Rail |
+7.5 |
+3.5 |
-1.6 |
+12.1 |
+19.3 |
-3.9 |
|
Vessel |
-7.4 |
-6.6 |
-16.1 |
-42.9 |
-2.8 |
+15.7 |
|
Air |
-5.2 |
-17.5 |
-2.3 |
-12.9 |
-9.3 |
-23.5 |
|
Pipeline |
+14.5 |
+53.4 |
+14.9 |
+67.2 |
-47.5 |
+29.9 |
