Report: NAFTA trade retreats from previous month’ s record

The Trucker News Services

1/31/2008

WASHINGTON — The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico fell 5.2 percent in November 2007 from an all-time high set in October, the Department of Transportation reported Thursday.

Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 8.6 percent higher in November 2007 than in November 2006, reaching $70.4 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors, the report noted.

Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline.  About 90 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moves on land.

The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in November was up 51.9 percent compared to November 2002, and up 91.3 percent compared to November 1997, a period of 10 years. Imports in November were up 103.1 percent compared to November 1997, while exports were up 78.0 percent. 

U.S.–Canada surface transportation trade totaled $45.2 billion in November, up 11.5 percent compared to November 2006. The value of imports carried by truck was 4.9 percent higher in November 2007 than November 2006, while the value of exports carried by truck was 15.1 percent higher.

Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in November with $7.3 billion.

U.S.–Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $25.1 billion in November, up 3.6 percent compared to November 2006. The value of imports carried by truck was 7.6 percent higher in November 2007 than November 2006 while the value of exports carried by truck was 1.6 percent lower.

Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in November with $7.7 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. November TransBorder numbers include data received by BTS as of Jan. 11.

The news release and summary tables can be found at www.bts.gov. BTS will release December TransBorder numbers on March 3.