The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) recently reported that that U.S. trade with its North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico dropped 7.7 percent on an annual basis in January to $82.4 billion.
Truck commodities in December fell 1.5 percent while carrying 66.5 percent of U.S.-NAFTA freight and accounted for $28.0 billion, or 63.7 percent of the $44.6 billion in recorded imports and $26.4 billion, or 69.7 percent, of the $37.9 billion recorded exports.
Rail commodities were again the second highest in value by mode, moving 15.2 percent of all U.S.-NAFTA freight, with vessel next at 5.3 percent, pipeline at 4.8 percent and air at 3.7 percent, with truck, rail, and pipeline handling 86.4 percent of total U.S.-NAFTA freight flows.
The value of U.S.-Canada freight totaled $42.0 billion in January, which was down 12.7 percent annually as all modes of transportation carried a lower value of U.S.-Canada freight annually. BTS said lower crude oil prices were a factor in the decrease, with crude oil moved by vessel and pipeline down 42.5 percent and 34.2 percent, respectively, annually.
The value of U.S.-Mexico freight came in at $40.5 billion in December, which was down 1.8 percent annually, with air, truck, and rail carrying more U.S.-Mexico freight value annually.