MMH    Topics     News

U.S.-NAFTA freight up again in January, reports BTS


Latest Material Handling News

United States trade with its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico headed up 6.7 percent to $88 billion on an annual basis in January, the most recent month for which data is available, according to the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

This marks the fourth increase in the last six months and the third straight month there has been an annual increase, as well as the largest annual increase going back to September 2014.

Trucks carried 62.5 percent of U.S.-NAFTA freight in January and continued to be the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners. Trucks accounted for $28.2 billion of the $47.8 billion of imports (59.1 percent) and $26.8 billion of the $40.2 billion of exports (66.6 percent). Rail followed trucking, moving 15.0 percent of all U.S.-NAFTA freight, followed by vessel at 7.0 percent, pipeline at 6.4 percent, and air at 3.9 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 84.0 percent of the total value of U.S.-NAFTA freight flows.

And BTS said that the value of commodities moving by pipeline increased 42.7 percent, vessel by 41.8 percent, air by 13.7 percent, rail by 5.5 percent, and truck by 0.4 percent. The large percentage increase in the value of goods moving by pipeline and vessel was largely due to a 66 percent increase in the year-over-year price of crude oil between January 2016 and January 2017.

From January 2016 to January 2017, the value of U.S.-Canada freight flows headed up 7.1 percent to $45 billion, due to gains in the value of goods moved by pipeline (up 44 percent), air (up 17 percent), vessel (up 13 percent), rail (up 8.5 percent), and truck (up 0.5 percent).

The value of U.S.-Mexico freight increased 6.3 percent to $43 billion in January, due to increases in the value of goods moved by vessel (up 58.9 percent), pipeline (up 26.4 percent), air (up 8.6 percent), rail (up 2.1 percent), and truck (up 0.3 percent).

Trucks carried 68.6 percent of the value of the freight to and from Mexico. Rail carried 13.9 percent of the value of freight to and from Mexico followed by vessel, 10.1 percent; air, 3.0 percent; and pipeline, 0.8 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 83.2 percent of the value of total U.S.-Mexico freight flows.


Article Topics

BTS
Cross-Border
   All topics

News & Resources

Latest in Materials Handling

Ergonomics Update: Hearing protection in the warehouse
Parcel handling on the move
An inside look at picking technologies
April Services PMI contracts following 15 months of growth, reports ISM
Where rack meets automation
Comau’s Advanced Solutions Drive The Benefits Of Automation For Diversified Industries
Toyota Industries Corporation launches Toyota Automated Logistics Group to house acquired companies
More Materials Handling

Subscribe to Materials Handling Magazine

Subscribe today!
Not a subscriber? Sign up today!
Subscribe today. It's FREE.
Find out what the world's most innovative companies are doing to improve productivity in their plants and distribution centers.
Start your FREE subscription today.

Latest Resources

Materials Handling Robotics: The new world of heterogeneous robotic integration
In this Special Digital Edition, the editorial staff of Modern curates the best robotics coverage over the past year to help track the evolution of this piping hot market.
Case study: Optimizing warehouse space, performance and sustainability
Optimize Parcel Packing to Reduce Costs
More resources

Latest Resources

2023 Automation Study: Usage & Implementation of Warehouse/DC Automation Solutions
2023 Automation Study: Usage & Implementation of Warehouse/DC Automation Solutions
This research was conducted by Peerless Research Group on behalf of Modern Materials Handling to assess usage and purchase intentions forautomation systems...
How Your Storage Practices Can Affect Your Pest Control Program
How Your Storage Practices Can Affect Your Pest Control Program
Discover how your storage practices could be affecting your pest control program and how to prevent pest infestations in your business. Join...

Warehousing Outlook 2023
Warehousing Outlook 2023
2023 is here, and so are new warehousing trends.
Extend the Life of Brownfield Warehouses
Extend the Life of Brownfield Warehouses
Today’s robotic and data-driven automation systems can minimize disruptions and improve the life and productivity of warehouse operations.
Power Supply in Overhead Cranes: Energy Chains vs. Festoons
Power Supply in Overhead Cranes: Energy Chains vs. Festoons
Download this white paper to learn more about how both systems compare.