NAFTA trade down 33 percent in April

April was the fourth consecutive month with a yearly decline of greater than 27 percent in NAFTA trade. Imports carried by truck were down 27.6 percent, while exports by truck were down 26.7 percent compared to the year before.

The Trucker News Services

7/1/2009

WASHINGTON — Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 33.1 percent lower in April 2009 than in April 2008, dropping to $49.7 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

April was the fourth consecutive month with a yearly decline of greater than 27 percent. Imports carried by truck were down 27.6 percent, while exports by truck were down 26.7 percent compared to the year before.

BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico fell 2.6 percent in March from April.  Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors, BTS noted.

Through the first four months this year, NAFTA trade is down 29.9 percent from 2008.

Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline.  About 88 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 April was down 6.5 percent compared to April 2004, and up 22.0 percent compared to April 1999, a period of 10 years. Imports in April were up 19.5 percent compared to April 1999, while exports were up 24.9 percent. 

U.S.–Canada surface transportation trade totaled $30.2 billion in April, down 38.2 percent compared to April 2008.  The value of imports carried by truck was 32.8 percent lower in April 2009 compared to April 2008, while the value of exports carried by truck was 31.2 percent lower during this period.

Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in April with $3.3 billion.

U.S.–Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $19.5 billion in April, down 23.4 percent compared to April 2008.  The value of imports carried by truck was 22.0 percent lower in April 2009 than April 2008 while the value of exports carried by truck was 18.0 percent lower.

Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in April with $6.6 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.  April transBorder numbers include data received by BTS as of June 10.

BTS will release May transBorder numbers on July 30.

Kevin Jones of The Trucker staff can be reached for comment at kevinj@thetrucker.com.

Follow The Trucker on Twitter at www.twitter.com/truckertalk