U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico fell 23.3 percent from 2008 to 2009

, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Land trade dropped to $637 billion in 2009, the largest year-over-year decrease for the 15 years covered by the data.

In the first six months of 2009, the value of land trade with the NAFTA countries was down 31.1 percent from the same period of 2008. In the last six months, the value fell 14.9 percent from the prior year period. However, the value gained 10.5 percent in December from December 2008.

Comparing 2009 to 2008, total North American surface transportation imports were down 26.5 percent, while exports dropped 19.2 percent during the same period.

In 2009, 86.6 percent of U.S. merchandise trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved on land. Total North American surface transportation trade value in 2009 increased 0.5 percent compared to 2004, and was up 27.0 percent compared to 1999, a period of 10 years.

U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade landed at $386 billion in 2009, down 28.1 percent compared to 2008. The value of imports carried by truck was 25.7 percent lower in 2009 than 2008, while the value of exports carried by truck was 20.2 percent lower.

Land transportation trade between the U.S. and Mexico was $251 billion in 2009, 14.4 percent lower than 2008. The value of imports carried by truck was 12.2 percent lower in 2009 than in 2008, while the value of exports carried by truck was 10.8 percent lower.

The TransBorder Freight Dataset is a special extract of the official U.S. foreign trade statistics. The data are obtained by BTS from the U.S. Census Bureau's Foreign Trade Division. TransBorder numbers include data received by BTS as of Feb. 16.

For data tables, click here.