Canada-U.S. freight volumes fall by more than 18 per cent

Transborder freight between Canada and the United States fell 18.4 per cent, even as major crossings in Ontario and the U.S. Midwest continued to anchor the bulk of goods movement, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

The agency says Detroit and Port Huron remain the leading truck ports for U.S. freight flows with Canada, alongside Buffalo, highlighting the continued importance of Ontario–U.S. trade corridors despite the overall decline.

Freight between Canada and the U.S. totalled US$52.8 billion, while the U.S. and Mexico saw US$74.1 billion in freight move cross-border, up 6.5 per cent from January 2025.

Total transborder freight into the U.S. amounted to US$126.9 billion by all modes of transportation, down 5.5 per cent since January of last year.

Rail connections show a similar concentration, with Detroit, Port Huron and International Falls ranking as the top cross-border links.

Pipeline infrastructure also remains centred in the Midwest, with Chicago, Port Huron and Minneapolis serving as the primary regions for U.S. energy freight flows with Canada.

On the marine side, eastern routes continue to play a key role. The Port of Boston, along with Port Arthur and Portland, are identified as the top water port connections for U.S.-Canada energy shipments.

The figures point to a broad-based dip in cross-border freight activity while underscoring the continued reliance on established Great Lakes and central corridor gateways to move goods and energy between the two countries.