Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was up 15.5 percent in November 2010 compared to November 2009, increasing to $68.1 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 November was up 8.2 percent compared to November 2005, and up 36.7 percent compared to November 2000, a period of 10 years. Imports in November were up 29.7 percent compared to November 2000, while exports were up 45.8 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 12.6 percent year-over-year in November at $39.5 billion. Imports carried by truck were valued 11.5 percent higher in November 2010 compared to November 2009, said the BTS, and the value of exports carried by truck was up 12.6 percent. Michigan paced all states in surface trade with Canada in August at $4.5 billion.
The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Mexico was up 19.7 percent year over year in November at $28.6 billion. Imports carried by truck were valued 22.4 percent higher in November 2010 compared to November 2009, said the BTS, and the value of exports carried by truck was up 21.9 percent. Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in November at $10.3 billion, marking the third straight month that Texas trade with Mexico by surface modes topped $10 billion, according to the BTS.