January NAFTA surface trade up 7.4%

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Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners, Canada and Mexico, was 7.4 percent higher in January 2008 than in January 2007, reaching $65.2 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 7.0 percent in January from December. 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 90 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 January was up 48.9 percent compared to January 2003, and up 89.2 percent compared to January 1998. Imports in January were up 99.7 percent compared to January 1998, while exports were up 77.2 percent.

U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade totaled $42.0 billion in January, up 8.6 percent compared to January 2007. The value of imports carried by truck was 1.7 percent lower in January 2008 than in January 2007, while the value of exports carried by truck was 11.0 percent higher. Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in January with $5.3 billion.

U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $23.1 billion in January, up 5.4 percent compared to January 2007. The value of imports carried by truck was 3.7 percent higher in January 2008 than in January 2007, while the value of exports carried by truck was 2.9 percent higher. Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in January with $7.5 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. January TransBorder numbers include data received by BTS as of March 11.