February NAFTA trade up 16.3 Percent from 2007

The Trucker News Services

4/30/2008

WASHINGTON — Trade using trucks, rail service, and pipelines between the United States and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 16.3 percent higher in February 2008 than in February 2007, reaching $69.4 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 6.5 percent in February from January. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors, the government report said.

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 February was up 58.3 percent compared to February 2003, and up 89.5 percent compared to February 1998, a period of 10 years. Imports in February were up 104.8 percent compared to February 1998, while exports were up 72.5 percent.

U.S.–Canada surface transportation trade totaled $45.0 billion in February, up 18.1 percent compared to February 2007. The value of imports carried by truck was 7.1 percent higher in February 2008 than February 2007, while the value of exports carried by truck was 10.2 percent higher.

Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in February with $6.5 billion.

U.S.–Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $24.4 billion in February, up 13.3 percent compared to February 2007. The value of imports carried by truck was 10.0 percent higher in February 2008 than February 2007 while the value of exports carried by truck was 12.5 percent higher.

Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in February with $7.6 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.  February TransBorder numbers include data received by BTS as of April 10.   

Additional information on TransBorder Freight Data as well as data from previous months is available on the BTS website at www.bts.gov/transborder/.  BTS will release March TransBorder numbers on May 29.

For additional coverage of the February NAFTA totals, as well as other trucking and trade issues, read the May 15 print edition of The Trucker.