U.S.-NAFTA freight totaled $95.8 billion in December 2014 as four out of five transportation modes – truck, rail, air, and pipeline – carried more U.S.-NAFTA freight than in December 2013, according to data released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Year-over-year, the value of U.S.-NAFTA freight flows by all modes increased by 5.4 percent, with December marking the 11thconsecutive month of year-over-year increases.
The value of NAFTA trade by vessel declined in December due to the reduced price of mineral fuels. The rise in total pipeline freight value took place despite a decline in cost per unit, due to an increase in the volume of freight.
Freight by mode
In December 2014 compared to December 2013, the value of commodities moving by truck grew by the largest percentage of any mode, 9.3 percent. Rail freight increased by 8.3 percent, air rose by 6.3 percent, and pipeline grew by 4.0 percent. Vessel freight decreased by 22.6 percent, mainly due to lower mineral fuel prices.
Trucks carried 59.2 percent of U.S.-NAFTA freight and were the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners. Trucks accounted for $28.4 billion of the $52.5 billion of imports (54.0 percent) and $28.4 billion of the $43.3 billion of exports (65.6 percent).
Rail remained the second largest mode, moving 15.1 percent of all U.S.-NAFTA freight, followed by vessel, 8.3 percent; pipeline, 8.0 percent; and air, 4.1 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 82.3 percent of the total U.S.-NAFTA freight flows.
U.S.-Canada freight
U.S.-Canada freight totaled $53.1 billion in December 2014 as three out of five transportation modes – rail, truck, and pipeline – carried more U.S.-Canada freight than in December 2013. Year-over-year, the value of U.S.-Canada freight flows by all modes increased by 4.7 percent. The value of U.S.-Canada trade by rail increased the most of any mode, growing by 8.1 percent. Truck freight increased by 5.2 percent and pipeline rose by 2.6 percent. The rise in total pipeline freight value took place despite a decline in cost per unit, due to an increase in the volume of U.S. imports of mineral fuels. Air freight decreased by 1.8 percent. Vessel freight fell by 12.5 percent mainly due to lower mineral fuel prices.
Trucks carried 52.6 percent of the $53.1 billion of freight to and from Canada, followed by rail, 16.0 percent; pipeline, 13.6 percent; vessel, 5.9 percent and air, 4.5 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 82.2 percent of the total U.S.-Canada freight flows.
U.S.-Mexico freight
U.S.-Mexico freight totaled $42.8 billion in December 2014 as four out of five transportation modes – pipeline, air, truck and rail – carried more U.S.-Mexico freight than in December 2013. Year-over-year, the value of U.S.-Mexico freight flows by all modes increased by 6.3 percent. The value of U.S.-Mexico pipeline freight rose 34.5 percent, the largest percentage increase of any mode. The rise in total pipeline freight value took place despite a decline in cost per unit, due to an increase in the volume of U.S. exports of mineral fuels. Pipeline freight remained 1.0 percent of total U.S.-Mexico freight value, the lowest value of any mode. Freight moved by air increased 22.3 percent, truck rose by 13.7 percent and rail rose by 8.5 percent. Freight carried by vessel decreased 28.0 percent mainly due to lower mineral fuel prices.
Trucks carried 67.5 percent of the $42.8 billion of freight to and from Mexico, followed by rail, 14.0 percent; vessel, 11.3 percent; air, 3.5 percent; and pipeline, 1.0 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 82.5 percent of the total U.S.-Mexico freight flows.
See BTS Transborder Data Release for summary tables and additional data. See North American Transborder Freight Data on the BTS website for additional data for surface modes since 1995 and all modes since 2004.
