US-Canada-Mexico Freight Hits Record Highs

Dec. 18, 2007
The freight that moved through US land ports, airports and sea ports to and from Canada and Mexico weighed 475 million tons. Most cargo was carried by

The freight that moved through US land ports, airports and sea ports to and from Canada and Mexico weighed 475 million tons. Most cargo was carried by trucks, up $43 billion year over year. They handled 62% of all freight and total volume was valued at $534 billion. Other modes include rail and maritime, that grew by $12 billion each.

The top ten US gateways for trade, largest to smallest, were: Detroit MI, Laredo TX, Buffalo-Niagara Falls NY, El Paso TX, Port Huron MI, Otay Mesa CA, Hidalgo-Pharr TX, Champlain-Rouses Point NY, Pembina ND and Blaine WA.

The NATS database has been in operation since 2001. From 2001 to 2006, US trade with Canada and Mexico has risen by 41.4%, a climb of $252 billion. Total value of US freight shipments with Mexico grew 42.7% overall, a 7.4% annual growth. Trade with Canada grew at 7.1% annually, up 40.2%.

The results are contained in the North American Transportation Statistics (NATS) database and are part of the US Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics which is a component of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration. NATS is co-sponsored by the BTS, US Census Bureau and Canadian and Mexican federal level transportation and statistical agencies.