October NAFTA trade up 14.9% from last year

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Updated Jan 6, 2011

Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico was 14.9 percent higher in October 2010 than in October 2009, reaching $70.6 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 in October 2010 remained 2.9 percent below the October 2008 level despite the 2009-2010 increase, BTS said Wednesday, Jan. 5

The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 3.3 percent in October 2010 from September 2010; 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 October was up 10.3 percent compared to October 2005 and up 36.4 percent compared to October 2000. Imports in October were up 28.0 percent compared to October 2000, while exports were up 47.5 percent.

U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade totaled $40.7 billion in October, up 12.2 percent compared to October 2009. The value of imports carried by truck was 11.6 percent higher in October 2010 compared to October 2009, while the value of exports carried by truck was 13.7 percent higher. Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in October with $5.3 billion.

U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $29.9 billion in October, up 18.8 percent compared to October 2009. The value of imports carried by truck was 17.2 percent higher in October 2010 compared to October 2009, while the value of exports carried by truck was 13.8 percent higher. Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in October with $10.9 billion. October was the third straight month in which Texas trade with Mexico by surface modes exceeded $10 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. In October, 86.1 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved on land.