Top 10 International Freight Gateways

The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has released information on the value of trade handled by some of the largest freight gateways in the nation during 2004. According to BTS, John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York was the top international freight gateway by value in 2004, displacing the Port of Los Angeles, which was the top gateway in 2003.

According to BTS, the top 10 U.S. freight gateways serve as national and multi-state regional trade gateways, in addition to serving local markets. The top freight gateways handle freight originating or terminating far outside their local markets. For example, 70 percent of the value of shipments passing through Detroit, the busiest U.S. land port, originate or terminate outside Michigan. At Laredo, TX, the busiest U.S.-Mexico port, 75 percent of shipments by value start or end outside the state.

BTS reports that in 2004, nearly $2.3 trillion in U.S. exports and imports moved through more than 400 international freight gateways across the United States. The top 10 international freight gateways handled $954 billion or 42 percent of all U.S. international freight.

Thanks to Ashwani Vasishth