The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the US Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that trade using surface transportation between the US and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 14.9 percent higher in October 2010 than in October 2009, reaching $70.6 billion. The value of US surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in October 2010 remained 2.9 percent below the October 2008 level despite the 2009-2010 increase.
The value of US surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 3.3 percent in October 2010 from September 2010. Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail, and pipeline. In October, 86.1 percent of US trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved on land.
The value of US 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, a period of 10 years. Imports in October were up 28 percent compared to October 2000, while exports were up 47.5 percent.
US-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 during this period. Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in October with $5.3 billion.
US-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 than 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.