Blog Post

Transborder freight between the U.S. and North American countries (Canada and Mexico) in April 2021:

• Total Transborder freight: $107.4 billion of transborder freight moved by all modes of transportation, up 84.7% compared to April 2020. April 2021 Transborder freight was up 2.7% compared to $104.5 billion in April 2019.
• Most-used mode: Trucks moved $68.3 billion of freight, up 77.5% compared to April 2020. Truck freight was up 5.0% compared to $65.1 billion in April 2019.
• Second most-used mode: Railways moved $15.7 billion of freight, up 164.4% compared to April 2020. Rail freight was up 0.7% compared to $15.6 billion in April 2019.

Total Transborder Freight:

• Compared to April 2020:
  U.S.-Canada up 76.8%
  U.S.-Mexico up 93.0%

• Compared to April 2019:
  U.S.-Canada up 1.3%
  U.S.-Mexico up 4.1%

 Truck Freight: $68.3 billion (63.7% of all transborder freight)

• By border:
  U.S.-Canada: $30.0 billion (56.9% of all northern border freight)
  U.S.-Mexico: $38.4 billion (70.1% of all southern border freight)

• Compared to April 2020:
  U.S.-Canada up 68.7%
  U.S.-Mexico up 85.0%

• Top three busiest truck border ports (42.9% of total transborder truck freight)
  • Laredo, TX                $16.2 billion
  • Detroit, MI                 $ 7.9 billion
  • Port Huron, MI          $5.2 billion

• Top three truck commodities (46.1% of total transborder truck freight)
  • Computers and parts        $12.9 billion
  • Electrical machinery        $10.6 billion
  • Vehicles and parts            $7.9 billion

• Rail Freight: $15.7 billion (14.7% of all transborder freight)
  • By border:
    U.S.-Canada: $8.4 billion (16.0% of all northern border freight)
    U.S.-Mexico: $7.3 billion (13.4% of all southern border freight)
  • Compared to April 2020:
    U.S.-Canada up 132.4%
    U.S.-Mexico up 213.9%
  • Three busiest rail border ports (49.0% of total transborder rail freight)
    • Laredo, TX              $3.5 billion
    • Eagle Pass, TX        $2.2 billion
    • Detroit, MI              $2.0 billion
  • Top three rail commodities (54.9% of total transborder rail freight)
    • Motor vehicles and parts       $6.0 billion
    • Mineral fuels                         $1.4 billion
    • Wood and articles                  $1.3 billion

  Total Transborder Freight by Mode:

  U.S.-Canada (both directions)
  (Dollars in Billions)
  Truck:              $30.0
  Rail:                   $8.4
  Pipeline:             $5.9
  Air:                     $2.7
  Vessel:               $2.4

  U.S.-Mexico (both directions)
  (Dollars in Billions)
  Truck:              $38.4
  Rail:                   $7.3
  Vessel:               $5.5
  Air:                     $1.4
  Pipeline:             $0.6