NAFTA Surface Trade Fell 23.3% in 2009

Surface trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico fell by 23.3% in 2009 compared with 2008, the Department of Transportation said.

Trade among the North American Free Trade Agreement partners dropped to $637 billion in 2009, DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics said.

The decline was the largest year-to-year drop in the 15 years of BTS records, the agency said Thursday. Imports fell 26.5%, while exports lost 19.2%.

Truck imports to the U.S. fell 19.1% to $222.9 billion, while exports dropped 16.8% to $232 billion.

Rail imports fell 32.2% to $60.4 billion and exports dropped 31.4% to $35.3 billion.

Pipeline imports plunged 44.3% to $45.8 billion, while exports decreased 38.5% to $3.4 billion.

In 2009, almost 87% of merchandise traded with Canada and Mexico moved over land.