Nafta Trade Value Declines 8.8% in September
The value of U.S. trade with Canada and Mexico in September decreased by 8.8% year-over-year to $93.2 billion, although truck freight value slipped by just 0.1%, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Vessel freight values decreased 38.9%, and pipeline freight decreased 41.8% mainly due to the lower unit price of mineral fuel. Air decreased by 4% and rail by 12.2%.
Trucks carried 65.7% of U.S.-Nafta freight and are the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-Nafta partners. Trucks accounted for $31.7 billion of the $50.5 billion of imports (62.8%) and $29.6 billion of the $42.7 billion of exports (69.2%).
The value of U.S.-Canada freight totaled $48.3 billion in September 2015, down 15.8% from September 2014, as all modes of transportation carried less value of U.S.-Canada freight than a year earlier. Trucks carried 59.1% of the freight to and from Canada.
US-NAFTA #freight value Sept2015 down 8.8pct from Sep2014. All modes down #transportation https://t.co/cvrmrhMtHC pic.twitter.com/Pt8hpGboAF
— TransportStats (@TransportStats) November 24, 2015
The value of U.S.-Mexico freight totaled $45 billion in September 2015, up 0.2% from September 2014, as rail and truck carried more U.S.-Mexico freight than in September 2014. The value of U.S.-Mexico truck freight rose 7.9%, the largest percentage increase of any mode.
The top three commodities carried by truck had double-digit increases in value: electrical machinery up 16.3%, computer equipment up 10.2% and vehicles and parts up 12.9%.
Trucks carried 72.8% of the freight to and from Mexico.
