Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico was 11.6 percent higher in December 2011 than in December 2010, totaling $74.2 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The trade value decreased 3.2 percent in December 2011 from November 2011; month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors.
BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported on Tuesday, Feb. 28, that the trade value rose 27.0 percent in the past two years from December 2009 and 40.3 percent from December 2008. The value increased by 25.7 percent when compared to December 2006 and also increased by 94.1 percent when compared to December 2001. Imports in December 2011 were up 85.7 percent since December 2001, while exports were up 105.2 percent.
U.S.-Canada trade reached $44.2 billion in December 2011, an 11.2 percent increase, and U.S.-Mexico reached $30.0 billion, a 12.1 percent increase. Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada at $5.6 billion, a 19.7 percent increase from December 2010. Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico at $10.3 billion, an 8.7 percent increase from December 2010.
Surface transportation includes freight movements by truck, rail, pipeline, mail, Foreign Trade Zones and other modes. In December 2011, 85.5 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved via land, 10.0 percent moved by vessel, and 4.5 percent moved by air.
