The statistics in this release do not reflect changes in tonnage moved.

Total Transborder Freight by Border in August 2024, Compared to August 2023:

Transborder freight between the U.S. and North American countries Canada and Mexico:

  • Total transborder freight: $136.7 billion of transborder freight moved by all modes of transportation, down 0.9% compared to August 2023
  • Freight between the U.S. and Canada: $ 63.0 billion, down 6.4% from August 2023
  • Freight between the U.S. and Mexico: $73.8 billion, up 4.2% from August 2023
    • Mexico continued to lead Canada in freight dollar value for the last 18 months.
  • Trucks moved $90.7 billion of freight, up 3.3% compared to August 2023
  • Railways moved $16.9 billion of freight, down 4.3% compared to August 2023
  • Vessels moved $9.8 billion of freight, down 17.2% compared to August 2023
    • Vessels moved 19.6% less mineral fuels.
  • Pipelines moved $8.9 billion of freight, down 9.0% compared to August 2023
  • Air moved $4.7 billion of freight, down 8.8% compared to August 2023


Bar chart showing North American freight by mode in August 2023  and 2024


Total Transborder Freight by Border and Mode:

U.S.-Canada (both directions)
(Dollars in Billions)
U.S.-Mexico (both directions)
(Dollars in Billions)
Truck$36.0Truck$54.7
Pipeline$8.3Rail$8.3
Rail$8.7Vessel$6.3
Vessel$3.5Air$1.8
Air$2.9Pipeline$0.6


Detroit, Port Huron, and Buffalo are the top truck ports for U.S. freight flows with Canada, while Laredo, El Paso, and Otay Mesa are the top truck ports with Mexico. Detroit, Port Huron, and International Falls are the top rail connection ports for U.S. freight flows with Canada, while Laredo, Eagle Pass, and El Paso are the top rail connection ports with Mexico. Chicago, Port Huron, and Minneapolis are the top pipeline connection regions for U.S. energy freight flows with Canada. El Paso, Hidalgo, and Laredo are the top pipeline connection regions with Mexico. Port of Boston, Arthur, and Portland are the top water port connections for U.S. energy flows with Canada. Port of Houston, Arthur, and Texas City are the top water port connections for U.S. energy flows on the Southern border.


U.S. – Canada and Mexico Freight Breakdown

U.S.-Canada Trade Breakdown

U.S.-Mexico Trade Breakdown

Top three truck ports

Top three truck ports

Detroit, MI$9.4 billionLaredo, TX$25.4 billion
Port Huron, MI$6.8 billionEl Paso-Ysleta, TX$7.5 billion
Buffalo, NY$6.3 billionOtay Mesa, CA$5.6 billion

Top three truck commodities

Top three truck commodities

Computers/parts$6.1 billionComputers/parts$14.0 billion
Vehicles/parts$4.9 billionElectrical machinery$12.0 billion
Electrical machinery$2.6 billionVehicles/parts$7.8 billion

Top three rail ports

Top three rail ports

Detroit, MI$2.7 billionLaredo, TX$4.3 billion
Port Huron, MI$1.8 billionEagle Pass, TX$2.5 billion
Buffalo, NY$1.0 billionNogales, AZ$0.6 billion

Top three rail commodities

Top three rail commodities

Vehicles/parts$3.7 billionVehicles/parts$4.1 billion
Mineral fuel$0.7 billionComputers/parts$0.6 billion
Plastics$0.6 billionMineral fuel$0.5 billion


Reporting Notes

All monetary values are in current US dollars and are not adjusted for inflation or seasonality. For previous statistical releases and summary tables, see transborder releases. See transborder freight data for data from previous months, and additional state, port, and commodity data. BTS has scheduled the next release of transborder numbers for Friday, November 15, 2024.