Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement neighbors, Canada and Mexico, was 11.5 percent higher in January than in January 2011, totaling $75.5 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The value increased 1.8 percent in January from December 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, March 27, that the January value increased by 82.8 percent compared to January 2002. Imports in January were up 72.7 percent since January 2002, while exports were up 96.5.
By all modes of transportation, U.S.-Canada trade and U.S.-Mexico trade accounted for 16.2 percent and 12.8 percent, respectively, of total U.S.-world trade in January. U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico trade both increased compared to January 2011 with U.S.-Canada reaching $44.1 billion, a 9.6 percent increase, and U.S.-Mexico reaching $31.4 billion, a 14.3 percent increase.
Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada with $5.6 billion, a 14.0 percent increase from January 2011. Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico at $11.5 billion, a 20.1 percent increase from January 2011.
Surface transportation includes freight movements by truck, rail, pipeline, mail and Foreign Trade Zones. In January, 86.3 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved via land, 9.8 percent moved by vessel, and 3.9 percent moved by air.
