NAFTA trade sets record, tops $80 billion in March

March was the highest month since collection of NAFTA data began in 1994, beating the previous record set in April 2008 by 8.8 percent, not adjusted for inflation.

The Trucker News Services

5/31/2011

WASHINGTON — Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 15.6 percent higher this March than in March 2010, reaching $80.8 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

March was the highest month since collection of data began in 1994, beating the previous record set in April 2008 by 8.8 percent, not adjusted for inflation.

The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in March rose 58.3 percent in two years from March 2009, BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported. Trade value in March was up 14.2 percent from the early recession level of March 2008.

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Freight value in March rose 21.5 percent from February. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors. 

Surface transportation includes freight movements by truck, rail, pipeline, mail, Foreign Trade Zones, among others. In March, 85.8 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved on land, 9.8 percent moved by vessel, and 4.4 percent moved by air.

The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in March was up 18.5 percent compared to March 2006, and up 60.9 percent compared to March 2001, a period of 10 years. Imports in March were up 52.2 percent compared to March 2001, while exports were up 72.3 percent. 

U.S.–Canada surface transportation trade totaled $48.7 billion in March, up 15.7 percent compared to March 2010.

Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in March with $6.1 billion.

U.S.–Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $32.1 billion in March, up 15.3 percent compared to March 2010. March was the first month on record that U.S.–Mexico trade has exceeded $30 billion.

Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in March with $11.3 billion, the highest amount of trade on record between a U.S. state and Mexico.

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.  March TransBorder numbers include data received by BTS as of May 20.

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

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