BTS: North American transborder freight-by-rail slipped in March

Transborder freight moved by rail between the United States, Canada and Mexico in March declined 0.6% to $18.4 billion worth of goods compared with freight moved by rail in March 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Total transborder freight moved between the three North American countries rose 8.4% to $144.8 billion worth of goods in March versus the previous year. March 2025 is the bureau's latest month of transborder freight data.

The value of freight moved by rail between the United States and Canada in March totaled $9.87 billion, while the value of freight by rail between the United States and Mexico was $8.7 billion.

Measured by the value of goods, Detroit and Port Huron in Michigan and International Falls in Minnesota were the top three busiest rail ports between the United States and Canada in March.  Laredo and Eagle Pass in Texas and Nogales in Arizona were the busiest ports between the United States and Mexico. 

The top three commodities — measured by the value of goods — moved by rail in March between the United States and Canada were vehicles and parts, $3.4 billion; mineral fuel, $600 million; and plastics, $500 million.

Measured by the value of goods, the top three commodities moved by rail in March between the United States and Mexico were vehicles and parts, $3.7 billion; beverages/spirits, $600 million; and computer machinery, $600 million.

Trucks moved the most amount of transborder freight in March, climbing 9.5% to $94.2 billion over the value of freight moved in March 2024.