The value of U.S.-Canada freight flows increased by 6.8% to $49.7 billion from October 2016 to October 2017, as the value of freight on all five major modes increased from a year earlier.
The value of freight carried on vessel increased by 61.9% due in part to an increase in the unit value and a 29.8% increase in the tonnage of mineral fuels traded. Pipeline increased by 11.6%, air by 8.9%, rail by 7.2%, and truck by 1.4%.
Trucks carried 57.7% of the value of the freight to and from Canada. Rail carried 16.2% followed by pipeline, 9.6%; air, 4.7%; and vessel, 4.4%. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 83.4% of the value of total U.S.-Canada freight flows.
In October 2017, the top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Canada was vehicles and parts, of which $4.7 billion, or 54%, moved by truck and $3.7 billion, or 43.1% by rail.
Overall, the value of freight moved between the U.S. and its NAFTA partners posted its 12th consecutive year-over-year increase in October.
The 7.9% increase from October 2016 put the value at $100.6 billion as all five major transportation modes carried more freight by value with NAFTA partners Canada and Mexico.
Trucks carried 64% of U.S.-NAFTA freight and continued to be the most utilized mode for moving goods to and from both Canada and Mexico. Trucks accounted for $33.4 billion of the $54.5 billion of imports, or 61.2%, and $31 billion of the $46.1 billion of exports, or 67.3%.