Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 28% lower in July 2009 than in July 2008. It dropped to $51.5 billion in the seventh consecutive month with a year-to-year decline of greater than 27%, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the US Department of Transportation.
BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the value of US surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 1.6% in July 2009 from June 2009. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors.
Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail, and pipeline. About 88% of US trade by value with Canada and Mexico moves on land.
The value of US surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in July was up 7.2% compared with July 2004, and up 38.1% versus July 1999, a period of 10 years. Imports in July were up 30.1% compared with July 1999, while exports were up 48.6%.
US surface transportation trade with Canada
US–Canada surface transportation trade totaled $31.0 billion in July, down 33.8% compared with July 2008. The value of imports carried by truck was 29.0% lower in July 2009 than in July 2008, while the value of exports carried by truck was 24.3% lower during this period.
Illinois led all states in surface trade with Canada in July with $3.1 billion.
US surface transportation trade with Mexico
US–Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $20.5 billion in July, down 17.1% from July 2008. The value of imports carried by truck was 13.7% lower in July 2009 than July 2008 while the value of exports carried by truck was 14.7% lower.
Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in July with $7.3 billion.
The news release and summary tables can be found at www.bts.gov. More information on TransBorder Freight Data and data from previous months are posted on the BTS website at www.bts.gov/transborder/. BTS will release August TransBorder numbers October 29.