BTS says surface trade with NAFTA partners up 14.9 percent annually in October 2010

Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was up 14.9 percent in October 2010 compared to October 2009, increasing to $70.6 billion, according to data released by the United States Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

The BTS said that the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in October was up 10.3 percent compared to October 2005, and up 36.4 percent compared to October 2000, a period of 10 years. And imports in October were up 28.0 percent compared to October 2000, while exports were up 47.5 percent.

Surface transportation, according to the BTS, is comprised mainly of freight movements by truck, trail, and pipeline, and nearly 90 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moves by land. According to the BTS 89.6 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved on land.

BTS officials said that the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in October was 2.9 percent below October 2008 levels despite an annual increase from October 2009 to October 2010. On a sequential basis, U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico was up 3.3 percent in October compared to September.

The BTS said the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada was up 12.7 percent year-over-year in October at $40.7 billion. Imports carried by truck were valued 11.6 percent higher in October 2010 compared to October 2009, said the BTS, and the value of exports carried by truck was up 13.7 percent. Michigan paced all states in surface trade with Canada in August at $5.3 billion.

The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Mexico was up 18.8 percent year over year in October at $29.9 billion. Imports carried by truck were valued 17.2 percent higher in October 2010 compared to October 2009, said the BTS, and the value of exports carried by truck was up 13.8 percent. Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in October at $10.9 billion, marking the third straight month that Texas trade with Mexico by surface modes topped $10 billion, according to the BTS.