BTS reports U.S.-NAFTA trade falls 3.2 percent in April

The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported this week that that U.S. trade with its North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico dropped 3.3 percent to $90.4 billion on an annual basis in April.

Truck commodities in April were up 0.8 percent, with the value of incoming freight from Mexico up 6.5 percent and Canada up 3.6 percent, which topped the 3.6 percent decline in shipments from the U.S.

Trucks carried 66.8 percent of U.S.-NAFTA trade in April and accounted for $31.4 billion, or 65.9 percent, of the $47.6 billion in imports and $29 billion, or 67.8 percent, of the $42.8 billion in exports for the month.

Rail commodities were the second highest in value by mode, moving 15.6 percent of all U.S.-NAFTA freight, with vessel next at 5 percent, air at 3.8 percent and pipeline at 3.7 percent, with truck, rail, and pipeline handling 86.9 percent of total U.S.-NAFTA freight flows.

The value of U.S.-Mexico freight came in at $44.5 billion in April, which was down 0.1 percent annually, with all modes but truck carrying a lower value of U.S.-Mexico freight than the same period the previous year.  Trucks carried 73 percent of the value of freight to and from Mexico, with rail at 14.1 percent, vessel at 6.8 percent, air at 2.7 percent, and pipeline at 0.6 percent.

The value of U.S.-Canada freight totaled $45.9 billion in April, which was down 6.0 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 31.2 percent and 45.1 percent, respectively, annually.