NAFTA trade surges to record amount in October

The Trucker News Services

1/7/2008

WASHINGTON — Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 11.1 percent higher in October 2007 than in October 2006, reaching $74.2 billion, the highest monthly level ever recorded, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Both imports (up 10.6 percent) and exports (up 11.7 percent) showed double-digit growth compared to the year before.

BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), reported that the value of North American surface trade in October topped the previous monthly high of $69.8 billion in March 2007 by 6.4 percent.

The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 11.2 percent in October from September. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors, the report notes.

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 October was up 49.6 percent compared to October 2002, and up 87.1 percent compared to October 1997, a period of 10 years. Imports in October were up 100.7 percent compared to October 1997, while exports were up 72.0 percent.

U.S.–Canada surface transportation trade totaled $47.7 billion in October, up 14.1 percent compared to October 2006. The value of imports carried by truck was 6.1 percent higher in October 2007 than October 2006, while the value of exports carried by truck was 17.8 percent higher.

Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in October with $7.6 billion.

U.S.–Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $26.6 billion in October, up 6.0 percent compared to October 2006. The value of imports carried by truck was 10.6 percent higher in October 2007 than October 2006 while the value of exports carried by truck was 3.1 percent higher.

Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in October with $8.2 billion

More information on TransBorder Freight Data and data from previous months are posted on the BTS website.  BTS will release November TransBorder numbers on Jan. 31.

For additional coverage and analysis of NAFTA freight issues, see the Feb. 1 print edition of The Trucker.