Trade using surface transportation between the U.S. and NAFTA partners Canada and Mexico fell 2.1 percent in October 2008 from the previous year, reaching $72.7 billion.


According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 1.2 percent in October from September. (Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors.)

Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline.
About 88 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moves on land.

The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in October was up 38.8 percent compared to October 2003, and up 74.9 percent compared to October 1998, a period of 10 years. Imports in October were up 75 percent compared to October 1998, while exports were up 74.8 percent.

U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade totaled $44.8 billion in October, down 6.1 percent compared to October 2007. The value of imports carried by truck was 17.5 percent lower in October 2008 compared to October 2007, while the value of exports carried by truck was 9.5 percent lower.

Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in October with $5.3 billion.

U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $27.9 billion in October, up 5.1 percent compared to October 2007. The value of imports carried by truck was 5.9 percent lower in October 2008 than October 2007 while the value of exports carried by truck was 18.4 percent higher.

Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in October with $9.0 billion. The TransBorder Freight Data are a unique subset of official U.S. foreign trade statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau. New data are tabulated monthly and historical data are not adjusted for inflation. October TransBorder numbers include data received by BTS as of Dec. 17.

For more info and summary tables: www.bts.gov