BTS reports February gain in U.S.-NAFTA trade

United States trade with its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico increased 2.9 percent to $86.5 billion on an annual basis in February, the most recent month for which data is available, according to the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

This marks the fifth increase in the last seven months and the fourth straight month there has been an annual increase.

Trucks carried 63.2 percent of U.S.-NAFTA freight in February and continued to be the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners. Trucks accounted for $28.1 billion of the $47.2 billion of imports (59.7 percent) and $26.5 billion of the $39.3 billion of exports (67.4 percent). Rail followed trucking, moving 16.2 percent of all U.S.-NAFTA freight, followed by pipeline at 6.5 percent, vessel at 5.7 percent, and air at 3.7 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 85.9 percent of the total value of U.S.-NAFTA freight flows.

The value of commodities moving by pipeline increased 65.2 percent, vessel by 36.9 percent, and rail by 7.0 percent. Air decreased by 1.6 percent and truck decreased by 3.6 percent. The large percentage increase in the value of goods moving by pipeline and vessel was largely due to a 76 percent increase in the year-over-year price of crude oil between February 2016 and February 2017.

From February 2016 to February 2017, the value of U.S.-Canada freight flows increased by 4.2 percent to $44.4 billion as the value of freight on three major modes increased from a year earlier. The value of freight carried on pipeline increased by 69.7 percent, rail by 6.3 percent, and vessel by 1.2 percent. Air decreased by 1.5 percent, and truck by 2.2 percent. The increase in the value of commodities moved in pipeline reflects the increased value of mineral fuels year over year.

Trucks carried 57.7 percent of the value of the freight to and from Canada. Rail carried 16.9 percent followed by pipeline, 12.0 percent; air, 4.5 percent; and vessel, 2.7 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 86.6 percent of the value of total U.S.-Canada freight flows.  

From February 2016 to February 2017, the value of U.S.-Mexico freight flows increased by 1.5 percent to $42.1 billion as the value of freight on three major modes increased from a year earlier. The value of commodities moved by vessel increased by 54.2 percent, pipeline by 9.5 percent, and rail by 7.8 percent. Air decreased by 1.8 percent, and truck by 4.7 percent. The increase in the value of commodities moved by vessel reflects the increased value of mineral fuels year over year.