Transportation news: BTS says surface trade with NAFTA partners up 32.4 percent in April

Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was up 32.4 percent in April 2010 compared to April 2009, increasing to $65.8 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.

BTS officials also noted that the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in March dipped 5.9 percent in April 2010 compared to March 2010. They added that in April 86.6 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved on land.

BTS officials said the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in April was up 12.9 percent compared to April 2005, and up 40.5 percent compared to April 2000. Imports in April were up 38.2 percent compared April 2000, while exports were up 43.3 percent, according to the BTS.

The BTS said the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada was up 32.1 percent year-over-year in April at $39.9 billion. Imports carried by truck were valued 21.5 percent higher in April 2010 compared to April 2009, said the BTS, and the value of exports carried by truck was up 31.6 percent. Michigan paced all states in
surface trade with Canada in April at $5.5 billion.

And the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Mexico was up 32.8 percent year over year in April at $25.9 billion. Imports carried by truck were valued 31.2 percent higher in April 2010 compared to April 2009, said the BTS, and the value of exports carried by truck was up 28.6 percent. Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in April at $9.1 billion.