Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was up 18.8 percent in July 2010 compared to July 2009, increasing to $61.3 billion, according to data released by the United States Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
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 86.6 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 July was 14.5 percent below July 2008 levels even with the 18.8 percent annual increase from July 2009 to July 2010. On a sequential basis, July 2010 North American surface freight value was down 12.3 percent compared to June 2010.
And said the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in July was up 23.3 percent compared to July 2005, and up 45.6 percent compared to July 2000. Imports in July were up 34.5 percent compared to July 2000, while exports were up 60.7 percent, according to the BTS.
The BTS said the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada was up 17.1 percent year-over-year in July at $36.3 billion. Imports carried by truck were valued 12.6 percent higher in July 2010 compared to July 2009, said the BTS, and the value of exports carried by truck was up 20.8 percent. Michigan paced all states in
surface trade with Canada in June at $3.5 billion.
The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Mexico was up 21.5 percent year over year in July at $24.9 billion. Imports carried by truck were valued 22.4 percent higher in July 2010 compared to July 2009, said the BTS, and the value of exports carried by truck was up 22.4 percent. Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in July at $9.2 billion.