US-NAFTA trade grows 6.2 percent in 2012

Friday, 22 March 2013 01:08:34 (GMT+3)   |   San Diego
       

Trade using surface transportation modes between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico increased by 6.2 percent in 2012 compared to 2011, valued at $960 billion in 2012, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the US Department of Transportation. In 2012, 86.5 percent of US merchandise trade by value with Canada and Mexico entered or exited the country by surface mode of transportation.

US-Canada surface transportation trade totaled $556.2 billion in 2012, an increase of 3.6 percent compared to 2011. The value of goods transported by rail had the largest year-to-year increase. Imports carried by rail were 7.4 percent higher in 2012 than 2011 while the value of exports carried by rail was 11.8 percent higher. The value of pipeline imports and exports decreased, dropping 4.3 and 2.3 percent respectively in 2012 compared to 2011.

The top commodity category overall transported between the US and Canada by surface modes of transportation in 2012 was vehicles and vehicle parts (other than railway vehicles and parts) with $107.4 billion in trade. US-Canada trade of this commodity group was split roughly even between exports and imports, reflecting the interdependency of automotive plants on both sides of the border, according to the BTS.

US-Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $403.9 billion in 2012, an increase of 10 percent compared to 2011. Similar to the trend on the northern border, the value of goods transported by rail had the highest year to your increase. Imports carried by rail were 14.3 percent higher in 2012 than 2011, while the value of exports carried by rail was 11.1 percent higher.


Similar articles

Rail and truck-based trade in NAFTA region grows in 2013

21 Mar | Steel News

NAFTA freight flow sees yearly gains

08 Nov | Steel News

North American railroad carloads of steel and scrap improve in July

09 Aug | Steel News

US-NAFTA surface trade rises to $98.6 billion

01 Aug | Steel News

North American rail traffic improves despite weakness in steel

07 Jun | Steel News

Surface trade between US-NAFTA partners reflects largely upward trend

30 May | Steel News

Volume on North American railroads improves in April

06 May | Steel News

Surface trade between US-NAFTA slows in February

03 May | Steel News

Coal, metal and steel scrap volumes decline on North American railroads

08 Mar | Steel News

Steel scrap and coal rail carloads slip in January

08 Feb | Steel News