North American transborder freight increases 2% in May 2024

Transborder freight between the US and its North American neighbours, Canada and Mexico, experienced a 2 per cent increase in May 2024 compared to May 2023, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The total transborder freight reached $138.9 billion, moved by all modes of transportation.

Freight between the US and Canada saw a slight decline, with $66 billion worth of goods transported, down 2.4 per cent from May 2023. In contrast, freight between the US and Mexico rose significantly, totalling $73.0 billion, a 6.3 per cent increase from the same period last year. Notably, Mexico has led Canada in freight dollar value for the past 15 months.

Trucks played a major role in transborder freight, moving $90.9 billion worth of goods, marking a 2 per cent increase compared to May 2023. Railways transported $18.5 billion of freight, up 4.3 per cent from the previous year. Vessels moved $9.9 billion worth of freight, an increase of 3.9 per cent, while pipelines transported $9.5 billion of goods, up 3.5 per cent. Air freight, however, saw a decline, with $4.4 billion of goods moved, down 7.6 per cent compared to May 2023, as per the bureau.

In terms of key ports, Detroit, Port Huron, and Buffalo were the top truck ports for US freight flows with Canada. For freight flows with Mexico, the leading truck ports were Laredo, El Paso, and Otay Mesa. The top rail connection ports for US freight with Canada were Detroit, Port Huron, and International Falls, while Laredo, Eagle Pass, and El Paso were the primary rail connection ports with Mexico.

For pipeline connections, Chicago, Port Huron, and Minneapolis were the top regions for US energy freight flows with Canada, and El Paso, Hidalgo, and Laredo were the main pipeline connection regions with Mexico. Regarding water port connections, the Port of Boston, Arthur, and Portland were the top ports for US energy flows with Canada, whereas the Port of Houston, Arthur, and Texas City were the leading water port connections on the southern border.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)