WASHINGTON — According to statistics released May 21 by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), more than $1.57 trillion in freight was transported across the borders between Mexico, the U.S. and Canada in 2023. The largest share of that freight — $996.4 billion, in fact — was transported by truck.
To put things in perspective, in 2023 the value of total U.S.-international trade was $5.1 trillion, of which U.S. trade with Canada and Mexico comprised 30.8 percent%. In 2023, U.S. freight flows with Canada and Mexico equaled $1.57 trillion dollars. The total weight of that trade was 2,484.7 million tons. While the weight of freight increased 8.8% from 2022, the dollar value of North American freight in 2023 remained unchanged.
Surface modes of transportation (truck and rail) lead North American commerce, together accounting for 80.3% of all freight flows by dollar value in 2023. Trucking continued to be the dominant form of freight transportation in North America, accounting for 60.1% of total flows in Canada and 72.2% in Mexico. Rail was second place with 15.7% with Canada and 12.3% with Mexico.
According to the BTS, about $3 billion in freight crosses these borders each day. In addition to oil and energy products, automobiles, and electronics, Canada and Mexico are also America’s largest trade partners in agricultural goods.
What were the top freights going into Canada and Mexico?
The U.S. ports hauled more computers and parts, vehicles and parts and electrical machinery than any other commodities to both northern an southern borders.
Top truck port locations to the north are Detroit, Buffalo and Port Huron. The top ports to Mexico for trucks include Lorade, Islet and Otay Mesa.
Key figures from BTS’s 2023 report include:
- Total transborder freight: $ 1.57 trillion of transborder freight moved by all modes of transportation, 0.0% change compared to 2022.
- Freight between the U.S. and Canada: $773.9 billion, down 2.4% from 2022.
- Freight between the U.S. and Mexico: $798.8 billion, up 2.5% from 2022.
- Trucks moved $996.4 billion of freight, up 5.1% compared to 2022.
- Railways moved $209.2 billion of freight, down 0.5% compared to 2022.
- Vessels moved $126.3 billion of freight, down 9.0% compared to 2022.
- Pipelines moved $112.6 billion of freight, down 24.5% compared to 2022.
- Air moved $57.1 billion of freight, down 1.2% compared to 2022.
- Vessel and pipeline freight decreased due to the lower dollar value of mineral fuels.
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
