Introduction
The International Mobility & Trade Corridor Program (IMTC) 2025 Data Digest examines trade and travel trends through the Cascade Gateway region of border crossings. Much of the analysis looks at how numbers have changed since 2019.
In 2024, volumes were up 8% since the previous year (2023), but 21% below 2019 numbers, suggesting that the impacts of COVID-19 border restrictions can still be seen in the region. But all of this data is based on numbers through 2024.
In 2025, the trend showed continuing increases in volumes, until we get to March. With a changing political landscape and trade uncertainties, volumes drop significantly (May volumes are 34% lower than those of May, 2024). So what can the trends between 2019 and 2024 show us, if the reverse is occurring now?
It tells us that cross-border travel numbers cannot be predicted. (oh, wise one, tell me more) Volumes are impacted by many things - the exchange rate, shopping trends, weather, and the political climate. We don't have the data to determine why the border crossing habits of those taking discretionary trips have changed, and we lack a means to quantify how sensitive these discretionary trips are to current affairs.
The IMTC 2025/2026 Personal Vehicle Survey that is scheduled to begin in July, 2025 will hopefully shed some light on changing cross-border travel patterns. Until then, we will continue to collect data that illustrates the dynamic, changing environment of the Cascade Gateway system of border crossings.
National Comparisons
For the last twenty years, the ranking of volumes of the Cascade Gateway's five land ports-of-entry as they compare to other U.S. - Canada border crossings has remained mostly consistent. Blaine (Peace Arch/Douglas and Pacific Highway combined) is the second busiest personal vehicle crossing, and Pacific Highway is also the fourth busiest commercial crossing and the second busiest bus crossing.
Because of the Amtrak Cascades service between Eugene, OR and Vancouver, BC, the Cascade Gateway has the second busiest passenger train volume on the border as well.
Sumas/Abbotsford-Huntingdon crossing has the nth largest number of pedestrians. Pt. Roberts/Boundary Bay is the 7th busiest personal vehicle crossing, and this is worth noting because the crossing serves only the small community of the Point Roberts ex-clave.
Cross-Border Vehicle Volumes
Traffic is up from last year, but still below 2019 volumes.
Personal vehicle counts across the five Cascade Gateway ports-of-entry have increased 8% since 2023. This follows a steadily increasing trend since COVID-19.
However the volumes are still 21% lower than volumes prior to the pandemic, in 2019.
The upward trend continued at the beginning of 2025, but data for the current year (available up to May 31) shows a dramatic decline starting in March.
Cascade Gateway Trade Trends
Volumes
Commercial vehicles through the Cascade Gateway have decreased 2% between 2023 and 2024.
The Value of Trade
Over $18.5 billion in goods crossed through the Cascade Gateway in 2024. In 2024, the total value of goods imported from Canada into the United States have increased 1%, and the $45 million (USD) value is up 6% from 2019.
In comparison, the total value of goods exported from the United States to Canada have decreased by 8% from 2023. The value of rail exports have increased since 2019.
Commodity Trends
Wood and wood products continue to be the largest import from Canada to the United States, totaling over $1.7 billion (USD, adjusted) in 2024.
In 2024, as in previous years, transportation ($2.3 billion USD, adjusted) and machinery/electrical products ($1.5 billion USD, adjusted) are the largest two commodity groups exported from the United States to Canada.
Empty trucks make up 36% of all commercial vehicles crossing through the Cascade Gateway. At Lynden southbound, a permit-only port, empties make up 78% of all trucks.
Border Wait Times
Wait times may be impacted by many factors - traffic volume, staffing levels, and security concerns all contribute to delay trends.
In general, border wait times increased slightly in 2024 as compared to 2023, but the trends remain consistent. The comparison of delay by direction illustrates surges in traffic patterns - there typically is higher volume southbound in the morning, and a larger volume northbound in the evening.
