BTS: Auto volume decline led to February’s decrease in railed transborder freight

The value of transborder freight moved by rail between the United States, Canada and Mexico in February was valued at  $12.8 billion, down 7.5% compared with January’s level and down 10.8% compared with February 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) data.

The year-over-year decrease in rail is primarily due to a decline in motor vehicles and parts, the largest commodity moved across the border by rail, BTS officials said in a press release.

The value of freight moved by all transportation modes between the three countries in February totaled $95.9 billion, up 1.7% compared to January, but down 0.1% compared to February 2020.

Freight moved by rail represented 13.4% of all transborder freight during the month. By border, freight moved by rail between the United States and Canada in February was worth $7.3 billion, down 1.2% from a year ago. Freight moved by rail between the United States and Mexico in February was worth $5.6 billion, down 20.8% year over year.