Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico was 28 percent lower in July 2009 than in July 2008, dropping to $51.5 billion in the seventh consecutive month with a year-to-year decline of greater than 27 percent, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation said today, Sept. 30.
BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 1.6 percent in July 2009 from June 2009; month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors. The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in July was up 7.2 percent compared to July 2004, and up 38.1 percent compared to July 1999. Imports in July were up 30.1 percent compared to July 1999, while exports were up 48.6 percent.
U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade totaled $31.0 billion in July, down 33.8 percent compared to July 2008. The value of imports carried by truck was 29.0 percent lower in July 2009 compared to July 2008, while the value of exports carried by truck was 24.3 percent lower. Illinois led all states in surface trade with Canada in July with $3.1 billion.
U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $20.5 billion in July, down 17.1 percent compared to July 2008. The value of imports carried by truck was 13.7 percent lower in July 2009 compared to July 2008, while the value of exports carried by truck was 14.7 percent lower. Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in July with $7.3 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. 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.
