Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners, Canada and Mexico, was 4.6 percent higher in July than in July 2011, totaling $75.7 billion – the lowest year-to-year rise since increases resumed in December 2009 following the recession – according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, on Thursday, Sept. 27, said the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico decreased 8.4 percent in July from June; month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors. The July value increased by 82.8 percent compared to July 2002; imports were up 66.7 percent since July 2002, while exports were up 105.1 percent.
In July, Illinois led all states in surface trade with Canada, at $4.9 billion, a 9.3 percent increase from July 2011; this is the first time that Illinois has surpassed Michigan in surface trade with Canada since October 2009. Texas continued to lead all states in surface trade with Mexico at $11.9 billion, an 11.8 percent increase from July 2011. Of the top 10 states by value, Tennessee had the biggest percentage increase, 31.7 percent.
Surface transportation includes freight movements by truck, rail, pipeline, mail, Foreign Trade Zones and other modes of transport. In July, 86.3 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved via land, 10.0 percent moved by vessel, and 3.7 percent moved by air.
