COSTEP recently analyzed the 2019, 2020, and 2021 truck crossing counts on the U.S.-Canada and the U.S.-Mexico borders. The U.S.-Canada points of entry of the I-69 corridor analyzed include Detroit and Port Huron in Michigan, and Buffalo-Niagara Falls in New York. The U.S.-Mexico points of entry of the I-69 corridor were Laredo, Hidalgo/Pharr, Brownsville, Progreso, Rio Grande City, and Roma, all located in the Rio South Texas region.
In 2019, the Michigan/New York State region saw 3,254,623 inbound truck crossings, while the Rio South Texas region saw 3,412,118, making both the busiest international truck-borne trade regions on their respective borders. The difference was minor, only 157,485 trucks, or 4.8 percent.
The outbreak of the pandemic negatively impacted trade in 2020, but to a varying extent. For the Michigan/New York State, 2020 truck crossings dropped significantly, down to 2,917,738. The 2020 Rio South Texas region truck crossing totaled 3,387,816, meaning the decline was much less severe, and difference between the two regions grew to 470,078 trucks, or 16.1 percent, in favor of Rio South Texas.
As the North American economy rebounded in 2021, both received a resurgence of activity, with Michigan/New York State seeing 3,147,251 truck crossings, and Rio South Texas' total rising to 3,739,519. However, these numbers also reflect a further expanding gap of 592,268 trucks, or 18.8 percent, in favor of Rio South Texas.
Directly comparing the 2021 numbers to 2019 shows that, in 2021, Michigan/New York State was still down 107,372 trucks, or -3.3 percent, compared to 2019. By contrast, in 2021, Rio South Texas was up 327,401 trucks, or 9.6 percent, above the 2019 figures, squarely placing the Rio South Texas region at the Heart of the North American supply chain.
